Caol Ila 18 Year (2017 Special Release)

Nose - (w/o water) Bit hot, sharp sweet apple juice, honey (w/ water) less heat, but otherwise the same Taste - (w/o water) Bit thin, drying mouthfeel, white pepper heat, dark fruity honey (w/ water) Less drying, more balanced dark honey, more apple notes Finish - (w/o water) Mouth drying, dark honey, white pepper heat (w/ water) Less drying, light heat, fruity honey Score - 75/100 Final Thoughts - As I expected, it's a slightly better version of their standard peated 12 year offering. This is more down my alley as it's unpeated, but it's still very much one-dimensional although the extra 6 years is apparent in that it has a lot better mouthfeel. It feels like the sweetness is more refined, a bit darker honey, but still very one-dimensional. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Caol Ila without peat - can that work? To fully enjoy this 18-year-old 'Unpeated Style', you need 3 things: time, water and perseverance. Vibrant and dense, the nose features pastries, lime juice and fresh sea air with a salty-mineral edge. With water, sour and biscuity notes intensify. On the palate, the complex flavor profile continues with apricots, white pepper and herbal spiciness. Full-bodied, oily and slightly dry, the medium finish fades with crisp lemons, salted nuts and a touch of menthol. An extremely rewarding Islay malt, despite its lack of peat. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

I totally recommend buying this bottle. It’s one of the most complex and exhilarating whiskeys I’v tasted to date m - it’s lightly Smokey but the smoke is unlike ardbeg, talisker, or laphroaig- it’s subtle and distant. The excitement comes with the white peppery spice and fruitiness on the back end - it ramps up like no other. After sipping caol ila you realize that it’s the exciting malt added into Johnny Walker. Cheers!

So nice and rich. Great end-of-the-night dram for me

butterscotch nose coaxed on the back of toffee and molasses. though proofing in at a high 119.6 this cask strength 18year old islay single malt caresses your taste buds while slightly reminding you that this an adult beverage, drink responsibly