The Fèis Ìle 2021 bottling from Caol Ila distillery was matured in refill American oak and completed in excessive char Moscatel-seasoned casks. Really that makes it a cask power model of the widespread Caol Ila Distillers Version, which can be 12 years of age and double matured in the identical casks.
Caol Ila 12 yo (57%, OB for Fèis Ìle 2021, Moscatel cask end, 3696 btl.)
Nostril: peaty and briney, quite typical for a middle-aged Caol Ila. Loads of inexperienced lemons at first, then peaches and good hints of tangerine peels after some time. Refined mint, in addition to a prickly sea breeze and rounder honey notes. Will get drier and ashier over time, with moist earthy soil and an growing trace of bread crust.
Mouth: fairly candy. Numerous honeyed notes now, in addition to raisins. Hints of caramel but in addition an excellent dose of white pepper. Mid-palate it turns into fairly spicy, with liquorice, extra of this bread crust and a charred, virtually bitter edge. Dried seaweed and salty notes in the long run.
End: fairly lengthy, ashy and saline, with tangy citrus peels and peppery heat.
I ponder whether they use a Setúbal or Valencian fashion of Moscatel for seasoning (contemporary, honeyed, very floral) or Moscatel from the sherry area (darker, raisiny, oxidatively aged). Both manner this ticks the bins of Caol Ila, with loads of punch and an additional layer of sweetness. Respectable complexity and never too winey. Malts.com nonetheless doesn’t ship overseas (boo) however now additionally it is out there from TyndrumWhisky or The Whisky Barrel.
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