Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 for MMM
Monique
1 087
Review by @markjedi1
This year is already the sixth for Mark & Manny’s malt and this time they will collaborate with none other and Monique Tromp, which many of you will know from Whisky Arts. Well, for our Canvas Series Monique will create four unique paintings on canvas based on the malts we select. The first one is a beautiful, young, cheeky brat from Islay, created in the island’s largest distillery: Caol Ila.
The nose is clean and sturdy on lots of citrus fruit, earthy notes, seaweeds and wet rocks. A fisherman’s boat delivering it’s catch of the day in the harbor. The captain is welcomed by longshoremen who are warming their hands around a fire pit. Fire sparks dance in the air. Sprinkle some vanilla and two drops of olive oil and let the party begin.
From the very first sip, it makes clear what a powerhouse this is. Sturdy and peaty and pretty spice too on white pepper and candied ginger. There is a brackish element too. Ashes, seaweeds, oyster sap. And besides the initial, unmistakable maritime elements vanilla and lemon juice arrive to douse the fire a bit.
The finish is satisfyingly long, the smoke fades gently and leaves you with salt on the palate and a smile on your face.
A young Caol Ila with balls, that will guide us through the harsh winter months.
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