Caol Ila 12 Year Old

I love trying different weird and wonderful malts. Indie bottles with mad cask finishes from obscure distilleries you've never heard of are all part of the fun of single malt enjoyment. Sometimes however, it's good to return to basics and appreciate your origins.

I love all Islay distilleries but I think Caol Ila was the one I was last to sample from the island, (barring Kilchoman that is) - mainly due to it being generally unavailable in UK supermarkets when I was a whisky novice.

Nose is grass and caramel with layers of peat covering it. Peaty yet lacks the iodine and smokiness of Islay's deep south trio. Becomes a bit sweeter after further nosings with lemon creeping in there. Fresh with sweet-peat and a medium-light style.

On the palate I get a peaty-orange flavour. Even slightly floral with the tiniest lavender hint, (!?). And then it sweetens with the lemon returning. But it remains fresh and uplifting.

Lingering finish of citrus that gives was to a charcoal coating on the tongue.

Really good for the price. I tried the unpeated 14yo expression earlier this year which cost more than twice as much as the standard 12yo, yet was only half as good. You can't get much better in this price range.

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