Caol Ila 18 Year (2017 Special Release)

OK finishing my stock of the unpeated Caol Ila's - until I find more. Nose - this one is complex. it's the salted caramels and vanilla's for sure. But there's something else going on. I get some fruity character which the box has me convinced now is strawberry. Oak is only on the very very back end and so subtle. Taste - Berries, soft sweetness, intense, man. Lets go in for another taste. It's strawberries, salt, and a sweet base that is like a toasted neutral bready note. Water brings forward some vanilla and cream but I'm still missing something on the sweet front. This drinks far under the 59.8% abv while still having so much intense flavor and such a creamy mouth feel. Caol Ila 18 is still a bold and over powering high abv dram like the 15, but it's such a nicer and softer and just better whisky. None of these Caol Ila's are overly complex but instead are over whelming in their intensity and down right great flavors. The 18 uses just american oak vs the 15 using american and european. Perhaps that's what keeps this one so much more enjoyable vs the overly harsh notes of the 15. I'd like more complexity here or just a better overall profile, but none the less great whisky. 3.75 due to how high quality this is. the price at 125 is ideal given 18 years and cask strength while being clearly not the highest quality casks and being a bit of an experiment. I will buy another if they're around for some time.

Bought this bottle on the curious thought of "Caol Ila... unpeated?" ... what a winning choice! Cask strength 59%+ and flavor for days. Nose and taste both have strong spice and bite, but I still drink half neat and the letter half with a teaspoon of water. opens up a buttery nose with strawberry and citrus and on the taste brings out a honey background

Popping the stopper the aroma was quiet. On the nose I only found a few things but interesting and unique - clover honey, mint, cut hay, wet rocks, and salt. The Mouth - a quiet buttered prologue steadily boiling into a salty sweet intensity and a rapidly drying mouthfeel. Brine takes over and a cloud of steam smoke and ash appear with a finish of vanilla and some pear aroma and hint of sour apple or lychee. Truly remarkable although no words will do - favorite dram of they year for me. An instant favorite. Can’t wait to blend this to see what character it will bring to other bottles in my collection!