Whisky : Caol Ila 11 Year, James Eadie Cask 356845

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 54.1%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon, First Fill Amontillado European Oak Hogshead (3 mo.)

Age : 11 Year (Distilled 23 Nov. 2008, Bottled 2020)

Nose : Sweet, citrus, and smoke.  Opened with a burning candy shop, salted caramel apples, and a salty sea breeze.  Maritime meatiness of lox and capers with lemon pepper as well as sweet citrus notes of lemon drops and 7-UP.

Palate : Thick, viscous, and loaded with sweet char and briny seafood.  Charred meat, herbal smoke, and smoldering sweet wood in the smoker.  A sweeter side cut in with brunt brown sugar, burnt bitter orange peel, lemon drops, and saltwater taffy.  A few drops of water brought out a nice creaminess and accentuated the sweet citrus.

Finish :  Lingering melted sticky candy sugars 

Score : 8

Mental Image : Flaming Citrus Peel Cocktail Garnish

Notes :  This struck me immediately with the taste-aroma of an expressed orange peel after torching the citrus oil.  At a virtual cocktail tasting we got a lot of practice at trying to perfect this trick so the aroma was fresh in my mind.  

I really enjoyed the combination of caramelization and fruit on the profile which contrasted well with the salt and meat.  The complexity of the nose and palate were well balanced and enjoyable to sip on straight up or with a few drops of water.  Water highlighted the sweet citrus and a bit of creaminess while subduing the meatier notes.  I was a bit apprehensive about this dram after the Lady of the Glen Caol Ila Amarone finish whose heavy wine influence did not work for me, but this was excellent.  Overall, this was a tasty Caol Ila with a lot to offer, especially for anyone that enjoys the citrus-salt profile of the distillery.