Whisky: Caol Ila 12 Year (2008), Adelphi Cask 309451

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 53%

Cask: First Fill Oloroso Hogshead

Age: 12 Years (Distilled 2008, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Smoked meat, brown sugar, cinnamon, fig, more subtle notes of ocean brine, hay, citrus, licorice.

Palate: Medium-bodied, tannic and oily, stewed fruits, cinnamon and anise, brine, citrus rind, earth, dried grass, subtle smoke.

Finish: Medium-length and drying, peppery with salt, grass, and citrus peel.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Midmorning in the Medieval Tavern

Narrative & Notes: The aroma brought to mind sweet cured and smoked meats with brown sugar, cinnamon, anise, and a touch of salty brine. Sweet figs and subtle citrus provided a fruity edge to more subtle notions of earth, herbs, hay bales, licorice, and a touch of Sharpie marker. More time to breathe brought forward more medicinal herbal notes of camphor and horehound behind burning sage. Medium to full-bodied, the profile was tannic and oily with sweet stewed fruits over more subtle earth, sea, and smoke. Bubbling pots of berries and figs spiced with black pepper, cinnamon, and anise appeared first, while salted lemon peel and dried herbs flittered in the background. Parched earth and dried grass lingered near the end with a subtle sweet smoke off grilled plums and a touch of burning brown sugar. The finish was medium-length and drying with peppery notes of salt, grass, and citrus peel.

I found this less of a cask bomb than I expected but still too wood-driven for my taste. The hefty mouthfeel was a touch tannic and left the finish too drying— though I assume fans of heady sherry maturations will not mind. The meatiness of the aroma was a high point and provided a richness that linked together sweet spices with more subtle notions of earth and sea. The palate lacked that same richness which meant stewed fruits and spice took the starring role without much in the way of a supporting cast to provide additional complexity. Water helped to an extent, especially on the nose, but left the palate more prone to the occasional hit of bitter wood or burnt sugar.

Overall, the floor on peat and sherry is typically very high, and Caol Ila is nothing if not predictably pleasant. Even if this did not quite ascend to the level of "very good," it was still solid and sure to please fans of hefty sherry maturations.