2014 Caol Ila Limited Release Unpeated 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Part of Diageo's Special Releases 2014 collection, this follows up on Caol Ila's unpeated 8 year old (presently sold out) and 14 Year Old, being ‘Highland’ in style and absent of the smokiness one typically associates with this distillery. Few Islay devotees will have had the opportunity to compare this against its smokier siblings. A wonderful exercise for your next whisky tasting! Bottled in 2014 at cask strength after maturation in first fill Bourbon casks.

Tasting note: Bright gold. Clean and delicate notes of vanilla, biscuity malt plus later hints of butterscotch. Firm and gently bittersweet in the mouth becoming more creamy at mid palate. Prolonged spicy surge of creamy vanilla and juicy malt to finish. Shows excellent length and balance. 60.3% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The Special Releases series regularly features unpeated Caol Ilas, and the latest is a 15-year-old expression, matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon casks. 10,668 bottles are available. Perfumed on the nose, with butterscotch and ginger. Fragrant fruitiness, icing sugar, fudge and sweet spices on the palate. Spicy in the finish, with the faintest hint of smoke. 60.3% ABV. 3.5 Stars - www.whisky-pages.com