Tastes

2020-Aug-28 Nose: Very fruity. Apple, pear, cherry, plum arrive up front. Notes of vanilla, coconut, toffee after a couple of minutes. Palate: Again, the red fruits are dominant: apple, cherry, plum. Relatively sweet, but not overpoweringly or cloyingly so. Light mouthfeel. Not oily. Finish: Medium-short; doesn't linger too long. A little cinnamon, but not much. Overall, not complex but certainly drinkable. Suited to late spring, summer, early autumn. Stereotypical Speyside flavor profile.

2020-Aug-12. 1997 Caol Ila Distillers Edition. Nose: Toasted marshmallow, vanilla, toffee, a little apple. Still the campfire/medicinal smoke characteristic of Caol Ila, but not as pronounced as in the Caol Ila 12. The sherry doesn't jump out at you; does not have strong sherry notes (fruitcake, mulling spices, etc.) of the sort you’d find from PX barrels. Palate: Nicely rounded — more so than the Caol Ila 12. Smoke, oak. Slightly oily mouthfeel. Finish: Smoke, white pepper. Relatively long finish.

2020-Aug-12 Nose: Honey, white raisin, apple juice, cantaloupe. Very light smoke. Palate: Round, sweet, honey, apple. Finish: Sweet, melon, cantaloupe, apple. Lingers nicely.

2020-Jul-31 Nose: Roasted peanuts, chocolate, campfire smoke, marshmallows, butter, leather books, marzipan. Warm and inviting. Palate: Cedar, sandalwood and other fragrant woods, coffee Finish: Coffee. Lingers. Overall, a sweeter, warmer, and rounder experience than the Ardbeg 10.