Caol Ila 12 Year

Tasted a 2021 bottling of this legendary Islay single malt. Nose: Thick brine, smoke, fresh campfire, BBQ, new leather, nutmeg, citrus, vanilla, with a touch of oak. A fantastic nose. Taste: Brine and smoke slowly subsides, releasing a salty and floral palate with a fine balance of peat and lighter Islay flavors. Smooth and sippable, but also just right in terms of depth and character. An excellent palate. Finish: Satisfying length, with a lingering mix of brine, citrus, vanilla, oak and ash. Very well balanced. Final thoughts: this is the definition of a benchmark Islay single malt. It manages to tick all the boxes and get them all right. It also completely blows away the mediocre Bowmore 12, despite both malts being the same age and from Islay. Bowmore, shame on you! I would probably rate the Caol Ila 12 even higher than 90, if only it was 46 ABV and unfiltered. There's always room for improvement!

Nose: Fresh and sweet, mostly pear-like. Little bit salty seaweed. Barley sugar, kinda banana peel-ish Taste: a littbe bit thin on the arrival, not overpoweing peatiness, more friutiness, again the sandy pear type

Happy New Year!

Dried leaves, wood and Fuji apples nose. Honey and lightly smoked meat (maybe honey baked ham?), apple, hay, cinnamon, and cloves mouth. Distant campfire, citrus and grilled fruit finish Very light on peat and smoke for an Islay scotch

Nose: citrus, honey, mint, tea, barely noticeable smoke, malt Taste: grape, citrus, malt, raisin, light smoke One of the less complex and less tasty single malts I've had

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