Caol Ila 8 Years Old Unpeated

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 63 by Martine Nouet and Dave Broom.

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Tasting Notes

Martine Nouet Nose Tingly, a bit spirity. Vanilla toffee, a touch of blancmange. White currant, lemon pulp. Quite fresh and perky. In the back, dry hay and a touch of honeyed white flowers (acacia). Palate Sweet, malty. Oily. Tangerine and lemon fruit salad. Garden mint. White chocolate. Finish Fizzy, spicy, lingering. A slight bitter edge. Comment A straightforward example of a bourbon cask maturation. A bit burning on the tongue for me but some like hot, don’t they?

Dave Broom Nose Very clean fresh and slightly sweet with touches of raspberry leaf, melon balls/rind, green banana. Fruity and gentle but seems young. Palate Light and lively. Juicy mid palate with that melon character coming to the fore. Delightful. Finish Fresh, slightly green grassy. Comment Not what you expect from Caol Ila though this unpeated style has been made for blending for 20 years or more.