Caol Ila 13 Years Old, Bottle for the Whisky Fair

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 49 by Michael Jackson and Dave Broom.

Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes.

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Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Vanilla. Perfumy. Dry grass. Then late smokiness. Grilled sardines. Palate Slides off the tongue. Oily. A creamy risotto, with spinach, lemon and saffron. Finish Smoky again. Comment Beautifully complex.

Dave Broom Nose Highly smoked: smoked ham, fat, the tar on the wooden walls of a smokehouse, but then the door is opened to let in a grassy fragrance. Goes very cloudy with water, then some coal tar. Palate Fragrant and floral (violet) then a blast of tarry rope. Good balance. Finish Lingering smoke. Comment The key, as ever is balance — offsetting dry smoke with a sweet spot in the centre. Good.