Whisky: Caol Ila 13 Year (2008), Douglas Laing for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 56.9%

Cask: Refill Butt

Age: 13 Years (Distilled Sept. 2008, Bottled Oct. 2021)

Nose: Acrid, sweet, and salty; butterscotch and caramel with brine, charcoal, bruised tropical fruits; notions of diesel and leather polish in the background with dry earth and herbs.

Palate: Medium-bodied, sharp citrus and brine, medicinal herbal notes in the background, tropical citrus and tin, charcoal, hints of earth and leather polish.

Finish: Medium to long with citrus and salt.

Score: 6-7

Mental Image: Benjamin Rush and the Haunted Carnival

Narrative & Notes: A haunted seaside carnival emerged from the aroma with the brine of a barnacle-covered pier, slightly acrid charcoal grills and diesel generators, sticky butterscotch candies, and sweet minty candy floss. Soft, bruised tropical fruits arrived with papaya and mangosteen, while hints of vanilla, caramelized cream, and menthol sat further in the background. Leather polish, dry earth, and slightly medicinal herbs— perhaps a doctor come to calm the humors— developed with more time. Medium-bodied with a sharp crips profile of brine, citrus, and more subtle charcoal and wood. A lemon-lime citrus explosion impacted the palate with a salty wake, washing out everything else. Tinned pineapple rings and charcoal grill smoke turned up in the aftermath, and as the citrus settled down— a few drops of water hurried this process along and provided a syrupier mouthfeel. Mentholated medicinal herbs lingered near the end with brine, dry earth, and hints of leather polish. The finish was medium to long with citrus and salt— a margarita if ever I have had one.

Good golly, I love Caol Ila, and this was about as pure an expression as one could hope for. The color of the malt gave away the minimal cask influence from the very beginning; though the butt, even if it was a third, fourth, fifth, or more refill butt, undoubtedly helped to elevate some of the fruitier elements. That fruit and the startling brine displaced a lot of the medicinal herbs that come through on other similarly aged Caol Ila. A few drops of water helped bring out additional complexity on the palate beyond a citrus blast. However, I did not mind the simpler flavors at cask strength.

Overall, a real delight and a definite bargain when it came out at K&L.

Image Credit: Whiskybase