Caol Ila 12 Year Old

So, my first whisky review ever, here goes.

Nose: A warm tingle. Sweetly-bitter. Very citrus-like. Grapefruit juice, caramalised lime zest simmering in a pan, lemon jam. A hint of burned rubber and peat, but still quite fresh and crisp. Some subtle complexity.

Body: Oily but light - like virgin olive oil. Leaves long tears on the glass.

Taste: Changes quickly. This whisky presents its flavours one at a time. Starts with a non-distinct warm sweetness, then moves to room temperature white wine, followed by kafir lime leaves and a hint of peat. Less complex than the nose. Very refreshing.

Finish: Quite long for such fresh flavours. Keeps changing. First grapefruit juice, then dry sherry, then an increase in the peat at the end. An undercurrent of fresh smoke throughout.

Comment: The most citrus I've found in a whisky. Very pleasant and consistent. Much crisper and more refreshing than most other Islays. For tasting nights, this is the first Islay to serve. Haven't tried it, but I imagine Caol Ila 12 yo might go well with fish and chips.

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