The yearly Diageo Special Releases always pack some surprises and it's fair to say an unpeated Caol Ila is probably one of them. This single malt Scotch promotes the distillery's lesser-known side as a sherry-forward Caol Ila that swaps smoke for elegant sweetness. It was matured for 15 years in refill and rejuvenated American-oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European oak butts before it was bottled at a cask strength 59.1% ABV.
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Opens with marmalade-laden buttery toast, milk chocolate and fresh orange notes, before red cherry, strawberry and raisin comes through. Lashes of vanilla and a suggestion of spearmint, too.
Leads with more of that creamy chocolate, fruity yoghurt and honey. Peach is in there too, and in with all the oiliness is a pine-like quality.
Yoghurt-covered almonds with some liquorice and, yes, some distant smoke.
It's an viscous drop that packs a creamy-fruity punch.
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Fresh and surprisingly fruity whisky that offers notes of lemon peel, toasty brioche, and just a hint of ashy coal fires on the nose. Just under the surface, and on the palate that helps to give a bit of a lift to a fairly grain-heavy underpinning, tempered to some degree by notes of caramel, walnuts, and a hint of rubber.
The first few sips were interesting. I am very familiar with very peaty scotches like Lag 16. But, this scotch took me by surprise, as it was very fruity, oily (viscous) and slightly minty/smokey. I would love to get a bottle of this again sometime. I would recommend this bottle to anyone looking to try something new (and those who may want a hint of a Islay scotch).
