Caol Ila Cl7 (Elements of Islay)

The ever expanding list of Elements of Islay bottlings includes seven Caol Ila expression already. This is Cl7, the latest release.

Originally sold by The Whisky Exchange, it’s found in plenty of whisky shops around Europe.

Caol Ila Cl7 (58,5%, Elements of Islay 2014, 50 cl)

Nose: a fairly expressive but also balanced nose. Medicinal notes, lots of coastal things (beaches, shells, hints of wet rope). On the other hand also soft hints of almond oil, sweetened lemon juice, even traces of butter biscuits and barley sugars. I tend to like ‘em like this.

Mouth: certainly sharper and highly medicinal. Antiseptics, iodine, menthol. Quite salty, one of the most mouth-watering whiskies I’ve come across lately. Liquorice and salted nuts. Cough syrup and herbal potions. Fernet-Branca. Impressive bitterness and saltiness.

Finish: long, still quite savoury. Lots of salmiak and earthy notes.

While the nose could make you think it’s a rounded, gentle Coal Ila, the mouth is very intense, herbal and salty. Interesting bottling from an otherwise very “narrow” / predictable distillery. Around € 85.

Score: 87/100