Whisky: Caol Ila 8 Year (2013), Thompson Brothers

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 57%

Cask: Refill Hogshead

Age: 8 Years (Distilled 2013, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Maritime, tar, medicinal herbs, vanilla extract, menthol, salt-water taffy, licorice/anise, driftwood, hints of citrus.

Palate: Medium-bodied, salty and sweet, licorice, vanilla, salt, horehound candies, hints of cola and sarsaparilla, ginger, cinnamon, hints of spearmint, subtle smoke and charred wood.

Finish:  Medium-length with licorice, vanilla, and strong tea.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Autumn Flavored Candies

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was rich and maritime with brine, wet sand, and tar. Medicinal herbs; horehound, mallow, and mugwort, brought to mind Ricola before fading toward menthol and vanilla extract. Licorice and star anise gradually rose to the fore with salt-water taffy and hints of beach driftwood and citrus. Medium-bodied, the flavor profile was salty-sweet with a lovely, almost creamy, weight to the mouthfeel. Licorice and vanilla dominated the profile with horehound candies and hints of salt, cola, and sarsaparilla. Ginger, cinnamon, and spearmint lingered toward the end with subtle smoke and occasional charred wood notes. The finish was medium-length with licorice, vanilla, and strong tea.

A lovely Caol Ila from Thompson Bros with a delightful vanilla and anise-driven profile with good depth and flavor integration. The balance between salt, citrus, and herbal elements of the Caol Ila malt tilted decidedly toward the herbal, with salt and citrus mainly playing second fiddle to the sweet herbal spice. The profile left me imagining a spicy cola-flavored Ricola— or perhaps an old-fashioned hand-spun cola.

Overall, a satisfying young Caol Ila from Thompson Brothers. There was nothing off about the malt, though I found it occasionally too sweet for my taste and the licorice-led flavor profile was not my favorite. I thought water helped control both aspects, and I ultimately rounded my score to a seven.

Image Credit: Whiskybase