Slainte-Mhath
Caol Ila 18 Year (2017 Special Release)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
December 3, 2018 (edited June 25, 2019)
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
99.0
EUR
per
Bottle
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Additional comment: This malt gives you a great opportunity to discover what lies under the 'peat blanket' of Caol Ila. Do not drink this neat! You will miss an awful lot if you do, and you will probably end up disappointed. This Islay malt is not for beginners. Take at least 2-3 hours time for this dram, and you will be rewarded. Slàinte!