Islay.
Deep gold.
Mild nose, with the fruity sharpness of green apples and orange zest.
Dense, firm. Viscous.
Dense, firm and mild at first with a sweet, minty-salty taste, then a freezing heat.
Long and warming finish with some spice.
Distillery: Caol Ila
Age: 15 years old, distilled in 2002
Strength: 59.1%
Region: Islay
Deep gold, with light beading.
A mild nose-feel, despite the strength. Relaxed, with gently rising waves of deeply fruity sharpness; green apples and a hint of orange zest. Pear-drop sweetness and biscuity cereals sit against a distant backdrop of soft vanilla with a whiff of sea-salt; a vanilla sponge cake enjoyed on the beach.
Cool and viscous, with a surprisingly mild mouthfeel and at first a sweet, minty-salty taste. A massive freezing heat then establishes itself, packed with notes of resinous liquorice; clear honey, pine resin, salt and lemon. Mid-palate, freshpeach. Exquisitely coating and firm, oily yet drying.
Huge, long, persistent and warming, with some spice; aniseed, liquorice, honey, and lemon zest. Superbly coating, with dark chocolate bitterness and a late pungency.