Caol Ila 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Caol Ila (Gaelic for 'the Sound of Islay') was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson - a Glasgow businessman with a keen interest in distilling. Like Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, the development of Caol Ila created along with it, a community of its own. Without these distilleries, it is likely that there would have been little sustained human interference in these areas at all. In 1857 Henderson went out of business and the distillery was purchased by Bulloch Lade & Co. The Distillers Company Limited took over management in 1927. From this date production continued until 1972, when the entire structure of the distillery was demolished. A larger distillery was built in the same original architectural style, and production resumed in 1974.

Other reviews...Nose: Fragrant. Menthol. Markedly Vegetal. Vanilla pod. Creamy. Palate: Firmer. Much bigger. Much more expressive. Sweeter. Leafy sweetness. Spring greens. Crushed almonds. Rooty, cedary. Finish: Some peaty bitterness. Big. Long, warming. Comment: The most vegetal and assertive of the three expressions. Lots of contribution from the wood. 43%Alc./Vol. RATING: 8.5 - Michael Jackson, www.whiskmag.com size>

The opening aroma is slightly prickly in the nasal cavity; aeration smoothes the aroma out as moderately salty-kippery scents dominate. Palate entry is integrated and sweet, at midpalate the presence of the peat takes shape in the form of smoky, woody, resiny tastes. Concludes with a flash of spirity fire on the tongue. Rating: 85-89. - www.wineenthusiast.comsize>