Caol Ila Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength 12 Year Old

Matured in a refil sherry cask, my host was trying to convince us of sweetness but my palate was having none of it, this is a smoke bomb and a rather yummy one at that.

• Nose: smoke, smoke, and smoke, ooo and some ashes, sot and coal smoke, with some smoked meat, burning tobacco, wood shavings macadamia nuts and the usual Caol ila black olive note. With water more olives and some baked apple pie.

• Pallet: peat smoke, ashes soot and overcooked bacon. With water more nutty, spicy and some pear notes to go with the brimstone.

• Finish: smoky fire notes and a hint of sherry influence, some Talisker peat and Laphroaig salt. With water much the same

• Mark neat – 8.5, with water 9.0

Ive always associated Caol Ila as a more subtle Islay whisky, well this puts my theory to bed, its a bruiser and its brilliant

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