Caol Ila Smoking Buffalo 7 - Champion's Edition

While it is not mentioned on the label, it is not really a secret that this is a young Caol Ila – my favorite Islay whisky! It was bottled especially for my favorite football team! In honor of the fact that they became the Belgian champions last season! Buffalo!!! Ah, this should be good. It is a young animal, distilled on 6th of May 2009 and bottled on the 19th of November 2015. A cask strength of 55,3%, ladies and gents. The bourbon cask yielded 271 bottles.

Surprisingly sweet nose on butterscotch, toffee and banana, wrapped in a wonderfully, rather dirty, smoky blanket. Think tar, soot and a bit of smoked fish. A drop of oyster sap and a little bit of black pepper. It is very accessible. The longer you leave it to breath, the sweeter it becomes. Especially the banana shines through. I think it is quite wonderful.

On the palate it is rather easy as well, despite the cask strength. Ah, nicely dirty Caol Ila. Earthy notes, soot and burnt wood precede the very sweet notes of the bourbon cask. Smoky! And quite peppery as well.

Long, warm and smoky finish, that delivers a sudden salty twist at the death.

Ideal winter dram. It was to be expected that this would sell out in a blink. Launched on the 11th December, it sold out in 45 minutes. A good thing I was there to order my two bottles.

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