Caol Ila 1993

12 year old Islay59.9 % vol

1 of only 259 bottles from cask 6779

Next to the three ‘Kildalton’ malts, traditional Caol Ila is the smokiest of the Islay’s (they do produce an unpeated ‘Highland’ version, hence ‘traditional’), and this cask does not disappoint. The colour is pale gold (from a refill hogshead), and the first nose is of disinfectant and acetate, then freshly washed hair (in Vosene shampoo): windswept and squeaky clean! Water merely enhances this fresh cleanness - we though of sea-washed pebbles on a beach - but there is some tarred roofing felt in the background, and this comes through strongly as fragrant peat-smoke in the flavour, after a sweet and acidic start. A lingering smoky finish, with traces of chalk.

Winner of a Silver Medal at the Malt Maniacs Awards 2005

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