Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2004 (Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength Bottled 2016)
Region: Islay
ABV: 59.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Sherry Cask 306615, 306620, 306621, 306622.
Colour: Gold
Nose: Sweet smoke, brine, rubber, ashy peat, cherry syrup, orange, almond.
Palate: Lemon oil, malt, salt, ash, pepper, red fruit jam, cola, ginger.
Finish: Long finish, earthy, salt, oily, chili flakes.
Score: 87/100
Always enjoy a cask strength, youthful Caol Ila, and this is no exception.
Welcoming sweet, smoky, and salty nose to greet, the sherry influence isn’t as strong as other refill Caol Ila I’ve had, but it lets a lot more of the Caol Ila spirit shine through.
On the palate you get an oily mouth feel, most of the notes from the nose are present, with a slam jam of peppery spice, carries onto a long, earthy and salty finish, with a kick of chili flakes in the end.
Overall, a rather enjoyable dram, glad to have bought a bottle.