Caol Ila Distillers Edition 2006-2017 Single Malt 43% 0,7 l

The Caol Ila Distillers Edition is another great single malt from the Caol Ila Distillery on the Isle of Islay. This island whisky has the typically smoky character but is refined by using well selected Moscatel sherry casks.

Thus, an interesting interplay of flavours can be experienced. On the nose a fragrant bouquet of smoky peat, phenolic, medical notes, a mellow sweetness and a slight fruitiness leaves a promising impression.

On the palate it all begins with a malty sweetness, which turns quickly into a smoky peat note. The taste feels fresh and crisp, shows some cinnamon and is very well balanced between an oily sweetness and a little dryness. The long lasting finish is still powerful and keeps the interplay of smoke and sweetness alive.

The Caol Ila Distillers Edition matured for 12 long years and had the chance to do this in two different kinds of casks. The first part of this process took place in ex bourbon casks.

They are made of American white oak and usually give a nice, smoky flavour. For the second part of the maturing process the spirit was filled in Moscatel sherry casks, which consist of European oak and add especially the sweet notes.

The combination of those two casks is responsible for the elegant character of the Caol Ila Distillers Edition.

The Caol Ila Distillery was established by Hector Henderson in 1846. It is located close to the town Port Askaig on the east cost of the Isle of Islay.

As one of the eight whisky producing companies on that little island, it has been manufacturing mainly malts for blended whiskies like the J&B or Johnnie Walker in the past.

In the new millennium the distillery started to release its own single malt and is still doing so with great success. Special about the Caol Ila Distillery is that the output of each year is released in an own batch. That means, each year a new batch of the Distillers Edition is launched.

Nevertheless, the particular character tends to stay the same.