Smoky Scot Caol Ila 5 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Smoky Scot is from Aceo Ltd, an independent bottler that took over Murray McDavid from Mark Reynier when Bruichladdich was sold off. This super affordable Islay whisky is a Caol Ila matured in bourbon casks for five years. Pale straw gold. Lifted whiffs of oily malt, tar, chimney soot, baked fruits and vanilla. Air contact adds a little seashore / maritime freshness. Entry is oily, fruity and richly phenolic evoking quality mezcal with flavours of char grilled pineapple, dried herbs, lanolin and sooty peat. Big and bold, the finish adds enough oak and spice to balance. Packs loads of distillery character. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Aceo are the current owners of Murray McDavid, so in a way, this is a wee peater by Murray McDavid, said to be only five (and therefore no ages are stated). Colour: pale white wine. Nose: pristine lime juice, oysters, crabs, kelp, light ashes and charcoal, in a very Coal-Ila manner. Elastoplast and fresh almonds in the background, which is even more CI in my book. Mouth: pure salty lemon juice, with less smoke than on the nose, but with more seawater, oysters, seaweed and all that. Finish: pretty long, still pure, still on a lot of seawater, anchovies in brine, and even with olives, which always puts me on cloud nine. Comments: we just did a mezcal session the other day, and we now realise how close to each other both spirits can be. I mean, some Caol Ilas and some mezcals. Brilliant wee drop, absolutely love it, even if there are zillions of very similar casks snoozing away in the centre of Scotland. 88 points - whiskyfun.com