Caol Ila 1996 18 Year Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

At most parties, there is at least one character behaving a bit peculiar, as if not belonging to the group. That's the one. In a blind tasting, I would have taken this 1996 Caol Ila from Hunter Laing for a Laphroaig. The nose features musty, earthy peat smoke, briny seaweed, pears and loads of white pepper. At first sip, your palate is hit by a pyroclastic flow of dusty peatiness followed by coal ash, subtle vanilla and lemon zest. Over-brewed tea and wood spices dominate the medium finish. With that being said, I'm somewhat disgusted but weirdly fascinated. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]