Some years in the past Duncan Taylor actually put their cash on octave casks. As soon as a reference bottler in my e book on account of their Nineteen Seventies Glen Grant, Port Ellen, Caperdonich and plenty of different wonderful bottlings, they all of a sudden appeared to have an empty cellar. They have been pressured to show to a lot youthful whisky and in some way octave casks gave the impression to be an answer for getting extra flavour into them. A technique that will not have labored solely – I can’t say Duncan Taylor has been on my radar prior to now eight years or so.
Anyway octave casks are sometimes a pleasant choice for retailers, as they’ve a small outturn that’s simple to promote. Right this moment’s Caol Ila 2007 was completed for 9 months in an lively sherry octave cask. It’s unique to Wine4You in Belgium.
Caol Ila 13 yo 2007 (54,1%, Duncan Taylor ‘The Octave’ for Wine4You 2020, sherry octave end #4028789, 104 btl.)
Nostril: a basic maritime begin, with hints of iodine, brine and seaweed. Then the wealthy, candy sherry comes ahead, with crimson berries and plummy notes. Toffee and darkish honey. Whiffs of diesel on high. Mild vanilla within the background, however in any other case no extreme woody notes. A extremely forthcoming profile, to this point so good.
Mouth: much less candy than anticipated. In truth there are caramel and chocolate notes at first, but in addition a nutty aspect and briney notes that take over rapidly. Then smoked lemons and lemon peels, with darkish ashes. Then again to toffee. There’s a barely inexperienced, tangy woody contact (ginger with a sourness) however nothing the sherry and Islay character can’t take.
End: fairly lengthy, with extra lemons and inexperienced woody notes. The salty aspect and chilly ashes keep robust, alongside caramelized nuts.
You may argue Caol Ila doesn’t want octave casks to shine, and also you’d be proper. Then again this {couples} intense Islay character to a fast however fairly built-in sherry affect. Nonetheless out there from Wine4You.
