Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2011 Acorn

Acorn is and independent bottler from Sadako City, Saitama… Yup, that is in Japan! Their bottlings have recently become available in Holland, Germany, Australia and Taiwan. This young Caol Ila from 2011 is one of their most recent releases. Ah, a Caol Ila matured on a bourbon cask… it has been a while.

Ah, well, that nose is, as far as I am concerned and with Caol Ila in mind, nothing short of coming home. Everything you can expect from a young, bourbon cask matured Coal Ila. Vanilla, apples, a bit of lemon, beautiful trace of woodsmoke and wonderful maritime elements that remind me of seaweed and stockfish. Add some ashes from a doused campfire, two drops of olive oil and the party can begin.

On the palate this young malt immediately makes you feel its power. Nicely warming and spicy on pepper and ginger. But easily quaffable without water. It douses very well, if you know what I mean. Now I get more of the same as in the nose – sweet vanilla, citrus fruit and maritime elements – but with an extra sweet twist, as if someone dropped a cube of candied sugar into my glass. And it works! This is delicious.

In the finish, however, the maritime notes and mostly the peat reign supreme.

This brings a smile to my face. A textbook example of young and ballsy Caol Ila.

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