An 18 year-old recently bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Co. For some reason you don’t get too many Caol Ila bottlings of this age from independent bottlers. Most of them are much younger or in the thirties.
Caol Ila 18 yo (50,5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Co. 2019, Batch #13, 377 btl.)
Caol Ila 18 yo (50,5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Co. 2019, Batch #13, 377 btl.)Nose: rather grassy with plenty of herbal teas, touches of mezcal and even a whiff of chlorine. Then it moves to leathery notes and brine, with lemon peel. Hints of tar. Quite citrusy overall and more coastal than smoky, I would say.
Mouth: intense, with a coastal sharp side and plenty of brine. Earthy and ashy notes mixed with lemons. Quite a fat profile, although there is a bright citrusy side again as well as some floral hints. Great style, a sharper blade than the OB’s.
Finish: long, zesty, leafy and smoky, everything but sweetness here. Late hints of grapefruits and iodine.
Clean and intense Coal Ila. I suppose this comes from bourbon wood, highlighting the naked, sharp and coastal style of the spirit. Available from Master of Malt.
Score: 86/100