SMWS has bottled no small number of Caol Ila over the years— this was the 468th cask, and that is not including at least a handful of small batch products. For much of the 2020s, it felt like the Society had an endless supply of ex-bourbon Caol Ila in the young teens, so it has been nice to see at least some of those casks getting some additional treatment or maturation with sherry. It is hard to beat the combination of sherry and peat, especially during the spell of cold and rainy weather I have been under lately.

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Whisky: Caol Ila 13 Year (2010), SMWS 53.468 “Step forward inhabitant”

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 56.3%

Cask: Bourbon Hogshead (9Y), First Fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Hogshead

Age: 10 Years (Distilled 1 June 2010)

Notes: Dirty and sweet, the aroma was tire fires in gingerbread town as oily shop rags, new car, chocolate candies, cinnamon, and nutmeg burned into the night. Hints of overripe mountain guava, split and rotting on the ground, appeared with sulfur and rotting vegetation— notes that dissipated with a few drops of water. Old campfires and a touch of skunky weed carried on as camphor and clove oil appeared. Medium-bodied on the palate, the flavor profile was similar with plenty of peppery spirit introducing new tires and new car to caramel, gingerbread spice, and a kiss of salted plums. Dirty shop rags and clove oil provided a musty spice as hints of dried chilis appeared. The finish featured more dirty sweetness with a touch of sulfur and plenty of black pepper.

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Score: 7 (82)

Mental Image: Defaced Gingerbread Village Car Dealership

Conclusion: This was wonderfully dirty and sweet with a fantastic balance between the heady cask and peated malt.  It was less coastal and more industrial than I expected, though loaded with plenty of fruits as the cask elevated some of the latent fruitiness of the malt. Water helped balance out any issues with the spirit, which could be a touch peppery though I generally thought it was well-integrated and water was not necessary. Overall, a solid dram, I would pour this any night of the week, but it was a wonderful match for some cold rainy weather.