Whisky: Caol Ila 18 Year

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 43%

Cask: Oak

Age: 18 Years

Nose: Maritime and coastal with a gentle wood-fired smoke in the background; candied ginger, citrus, apples, and walnut; polished wood with tar and hints of tobacco.

Palate: Medium to light-bodied, balanced, citrus and candied ginger with coastal brine, minerals, and dirty auto shop rags; smoldering logs and dried grass with hints of wildflower and heather, old books and creosote with a touch of driftwood toward the end.

Finish: Medium to long with maritime brine, candied fruits, and oak.

Score: 7 (83)

Mental Image: Midnight Picnic at the Beach

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was soft and mild, with a cozy blanket of burning wood and smoke over sweeter notions of ginger, citrus, apples, and nuts.  Tar, tobacco, and burnt grass hung around the edges of an overarching maritime brine— always soft and never harsh. Medium to light-bodied, the flavors popped wonderfully as fruits and candied ginger came out on top, with smoke, salt, and dirtier industrial notes falling into line afterward. Floral notes, which teased on the nose, appeared with time on the palate with dried heather and grass before old books and oak arrived at the end.  The finish was nice and long, gentle as always, with brine, fruit, ginger, and wood.

I enjoyed this and immediately went to my local internet search giant to see how much a bottle costs—only to discover that the 18-year was discontinued and prices had skyrocketed. This is a collector’s piece now and not something I suspect many will buy to drink unless some personal love affair with the whisky drives them to madness.

Overall, a lovely Islay sipper— where did you go?