Whisky : Caol Ila 8 Year; Scotch Universe Callisto IX

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 59.8%

Cask : First Fill Marsala Wine Barrique

Nose : Smoldering coals, grilled meat, and fragrant spices, the aroma is meaty and rich.  Fruity notes of stone fruits and dark berries along with a sweet poached tomato compliment the thick smoke.  Seaside steak barbecue, unagi, and a rich red wine sauce.  The Marsala influence comes on strong as steak demi-glace sauce.

Palate :  Grilled stone fruits, charred fruit skins, dulce de leche, as well as sweet cinnamon and brown sugar,  A bit of sweet and salty grilled fish comes through along with barbecue sauce, though thick fruity notes dominate the palate.

Finish :  Medium length smoke and fruit.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Porterhouse with Marsala Wine Sauce.

Something Similar : Ardbeg Grooves (rich meat notes and charred fruit, more tobacco/vanilla)

Something Similar : Westland Garryana 2018 (similar bbq sauce/fruit, less smoke, more balance)

Something Similar : Ardmore 12 Year SMWS 66.141 (charred fruits, brown sugar, more grass/tropical)

Notes :  Really beautiful Caol Ila, I loved the rich combination of meaty smoke and stewed fruits.  I would not have guessed this was Caol Ila, there were not a whole lot of the notes I associate with the distiller— citrus, maritime, and salt.  There were hints of those things, but the profile was far more driven by barbecue notes and cask influence.  This dram had a great balance between a sweet palate and a more savory nose, though the peat monster wife thought it was a bit too sweet for her taste.  At eight years old the spirit had an excellent punchiness which balanced well against the strong cask influence.  

If you love a good sweet wine cask influence and dig a coal smoke/charr background to everything, then this should be right up your alley.  I was really happy with this and I cannot wait to dive into more of the Scotch Universe bottles I have lying around.