Caol Ila Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A seductive after-dinner Caol Ila to melt into dark chocolate or blue vein cheese.

The combined effect of the Moscatel cask and European oak can work particularly well with peated Islay spirit - so long as it's not overdone. Six months finishing in the sweet Moscatel dessert wine casks has resulted in a decidedly different Caol Ila. On the nose, there's a creamy, soft, sweet peat - think smokey vanilla wafer. Second pass suggests fennel / herbal tea over citrus lozenge. The oily, smokey fruit'n'nut-chocolate delivery maintains a fine sweet/dry balance, rounded off with sufficient zest and spice to counter the moscatel input. Liquorice bullets and lanolin in the aftertaste. A seductive after-dinner Caol Ila to melt into dark chocolate or blue vein cheese. 43% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... The finish in question here is Muscatel casks and you can tell that from the start, as the nose is filled with a rich, sweet, and very pronounced dusky fruitiness — sloes and plums. The smoke as a result is diminished as are the grassy/bacony notes. While the smoke does emerge from its fruity bubble on the tongue, the effect is almost liqueur-like. It's a very pleasing dram, but the question is, is it Caol Ila? 80 points - whiskyadvocate.com