Nose: Plenty of diesel, dry oak, tar and charcoal with whispers of grilled beef and smoked paprika powder. It’s beastly yet somewhat dense too, if that makes sense. Soft notes of vegetal peat, almond paste and sea spray also. A sliver of ozone and burlap too.
Taste: Grilled, barbecue-style beef that’s seasoned well with pepper and a pinch of salt. Just a whiff of struck matches, plums, tobacco and a slight medicinal note. Also quite dry. Ashes, charred oak, warming peat.
Finish: Long with wood smoke, spices and tobacco. Very dry though.
CONCLUSION
I feel the cask influence here is massive. Just massive. It's a style that I may not prefer necessarily, but can appreciate from time to time. However, the dryness of the palate is just a tad over the top if you ask me. That's the main reason why I don't rate this Caol Ila any higher.
BOW (90)
The Old Particular 'The Dutch Dram Masters' brings a unique series of single cask bottlings to the Netherlands. The first variant is dedicated to The Night Watch, a masterpiece by 'our' Rembrandt.
To honour the legacy of our Dutch masters of art, Douglas Laing - in collaboration with De Monnik Dranken - has created 'The Dutch Dram Masters'.
The first whisky in this series of bottlings is a beautiful 15-year-old Coal Ila single malt single cask. This whisky is an ode to The Night's Watch and bottled at a fine cask strength of 54.6%.
The whisky has undergone a finish on a PX Sherry Butt. The cask produced 710 fine mahogany-coloured bottles. The whisky is non chill filtered and has the natural colour.
Tasting notes:
A complex soft whisky with spicy summer fruits and toffee. Followed by a nice layer of peat smoke and fresh mint.
