Caol Ila DE (2002/2014), 43%

Review #776

This is the 2014 Distillers Edition and it is finished in Moscatel wine casks. White fruits and white grape sweetness in the smell. Overwhelmingly sweet at first – actually so much that most of the peat is suppressed – but after a while, the peat starts to peep forward.

The taste is much like the smell. Full of white fruits and sweet white wine notes. Some oak comes forward in the finish and blends with the sweetness. Short to medium finish – Most of the flavours short, but that vanilla peat stays a little longer than the rest (or actually quite a while longer).

It is much like the classic 12 year old, just a bit sweeter and more flavourful (again, just a bit). If you enjoy Caol Ila, you will definitely enjoy this as well – though it is not in the top league of Caol Ila’s. I will give this 85/100 (21/22/21/21).