Origin: Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 53.2%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Spirits Beast
Average price: € 130.00
Official website: www.spiritsbeast.it
After the jaguar, I travel back in time with one of the first bottlings from the Italian Spirits Beast, tackling a classic Caol Ila matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon single cask.
High but not full strength, with 150 bottles filled in August 2024 and the were-crocodile as a guiding animal in the illustration by Giacomo Galligani.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and zesty nose profile that evokes impressions of lime, mint, brown sugar (no, it’s not a mojito), green apple, burnt marshmallows over a fire, crème brûlée, and brined olives, all wrapped in a rich and intense smoke that’s not overwhelming, in Caol Ila style. Brushstrokes of spices (nutmeg, cloves), nuts (almonds, toasted pine nuts), and chinotto. The addition of water enhances the salty aspect, dulling the rest: better without. Solid.
Very oily on the sip, soft and warm with a burst of chili that pleasantly tingles the tongue and palate. Savory with bitter hints, between licorice, cinchona, apple, almonds, sugar paste, candied lemon, and smoke, sweet and briny. The salty aspect becomes more intense over time, with a notion of Modica chocolate. As with the nose, a few drops of water are detrimental and flatten the dram.
Finale long where saltiness reigns supreme, with an oily smoke carrying notes of nuts, apple, and citrusy and balsamic touches.
Review: Everything you expect from a Caol Ila in this form, with well-constructed coherence and compactness. Mundane? No, simply solid.
Vote: 86/100