Caol Ila 12 Year Old

This would be the perfect Introduction to Islay.

Nose: Peat. Fresh sawed wood, medicinal rubber, ash, brine. Yes, the most talked about citrus sweetness: I got mostly a more sour lime. Slight mushroom note. After 10 minutes the sweetness becomes very well integrated, and you get a more calmer peat and salt. The fruit changes as well, turning into a honeyed apple sweetness, just like a peaty livet/fiddich.

Palate: In a strange way this seems light but oily at the same time. Advances sweet then spicy and bitter. Just as with the nose, It gets more sweeter with time. Vanilla, the citrus is now sweeter then on the nose, more like lemons.

Finish: Smoke, ash, coffee and caramel, then the peat and salt starts competing. It's a long race, a good race and the salt wins.

Caol Ila worked really well for presenting a very clear and untouched peat note, especially when freshly poured, and it keeps it's place decently in all stages. While being highly enjoyable and very similar to Talisker, the latter just shows a more stronger maritime and overall character.

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