Dramfool bottled this Caol Ila and a handful of sibling casks, most with different types of finishes. This specific bottle spent some time in a Bordeaux Red Wine Barrique. I have not had a high hit rate with red wine maturations, though I have had a better experience with those that specified Bordeaux or involved peated malt.

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Whisky: Caol Ila 14 Year (2008), Dramfool Cask 313321

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 59.4%

Cask: Bordeaux Red Wine Barrique Finish

Age: 14 Years (Distilled 4 July 2008)

Notes: Grungy and dirty, almost old fashioned at times with some of the garden shed vibes I expect on Millburn. Dried macerated coconut flakes and dates left me thinking no-bake trail bars or Christmas candies. Wispy smoke with more earthiness than I expect from Caol Ila, the red wine did a lot of talking, giving this a vaguely farmy quality with garden sheds, plowed earth, and a kiss of fertilizer pellets. Medium-bodied on the palate, the profile was much sweeter with caramelized and burnt sugars, palm sugar, and dates— it was candy making gone a bit wrong. Peppery and spirited with an amplified acrid quality as more cinnamon, instant coffee, and Milo chocolate mix appeared— a few drops of water helped tame the spirit and brought out some of the farmy elements of the aroma.  The finish was long and peppery with hints of palm sugar and dates.

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Score: 6 (78)

Mental Image: Bivouacking Candy Adventure

Conclusion: The aroma of this whisky was fabulous— a true sniffers delight. The flavor profile was a bit of a let down as it was sometimes raw and spirited, with a bit too much pepper and an unfortunate bitter and acrid burnt sugar quality. Water went a long way to balancing things out, taming the spirit, and brining more of the complexity of the aroma to the palate. To me, this was a strong candidate for bottling at just 46-48% to really get the right notes to come through. I know some may find that sacrilege, but I would rather be able to tuck in right away than fuss with water, but this really needed it.