Slainte-Mhath
Caol Ila Distillers Edition
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
January 30, 2021 (edited February 1, 2021)
Moscatel is a sweet dessert wine, so this wood finish should nicely add to the mineral and peaty nature of the Caol Ila spirit. The nose reveals whiffs of firewood and embers, enriched by pronounced spices, maple syrup and seaweed. Peppermint, apricots and fresh ginger appear. On the palate, aromatic and sour notes blossom whilst briny peat smoke and a sugary overcoat round off the picture. Bitter tea, licorice and grapefruit zest accompany the earthy and slightly dry finish. Giving a twist on the Caol Ila theme, this Distillers Edition is very decent.
RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]
60.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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I didnt even know this existed......never seen it
Additional comment: Is the Distillers Edition better than the original? No, but it is different. Although the Moscatel influence is discrete, the end result is very much alive a kicking. That being said, I still have a clear preference for Caol Ila 12 yo.
Additional comment: In preparation for this review, I bought and enjoyed a bottle 'Alambre 10 Anos Moscatel de Setúbal'. However, later I realized that the Caol Ila Distillers Edition obviously uses Moscatel SHERRY casks (a Spanish fortified wine similar to Pedro Ximénez), not the Portuguese equivalent. As far as I understand, both wines use Moscatel de Alejandria grapes, hence the confusion.
Additional information: This review is for Caol Ila Distillers Edition 2017 (distilled in 2006), C-si; 4-477.