Caol Ila 12 Year

This is another "secret" Islay distillery like Bowmore, Kilchoman, and Bruichladdich ... basically, my liquor store experience is that if it's not Ardbeg, Laphroaig, or Lagavulin, it's virtually unknown to the common whisky drinker/buyer. It sits on the shelf waiting for adventurers or blog readers. 

Well, this is one they SHOULD know. It's a particular favorite of mine, one that I always keep on hand. I discovered it in the Adams Morgan scotch/bourbon bar Smoke & Barrel on (I think) July 4th and was particularly enamored of it. Since then it's only grown in my estimation. 

Bottled at 43%, it's apparently well known to be present in various blends (Johnnie Walker Black and Black Bottle 5 Year, I believe, are two of them). To the best of my knowledge, it's pronounced "Cool EYE-lah," meaning Sound of Islay.   

Nose: Smoke and peat, rich and complex yet not overpowering and without the usual iodine or briny salt that usually comes in the Islay package. Delicious smoke, instead. A delicious, chewy savory note. Nuts - nuts everywhere! It smells like roasted peanut butter, toasted almonds, roasted chestnuts. But mostly, to my nose, peanuts. I find this enchanting. 

Curiously, Caol Ila's own website (see below) says "little or no smoke," but I get it straight off the top. They also declare a citric note here that I only sense in the vaguest possible way. Like, someone holding an orange or a lemon in their pocket once toured the distillery, several years ago, and then the workers talked about that person over their lunch while the whisky was being distilled.  

Mouthfeel: Curious. Let's go with a round "medium," because it's not thin and watery but neither is it thick and fluffy either. The smoke goes a ways to bolster the mouth sensation here. 

Palate: Wonderfully rich and gentle but also somewhat muscular. The smoke remains rich and complex, several layers that evolve on the tongue. More savory peanut butter, this time with the hint of the peanut husks and shells included. More nuts, like hazelnuts and maybe even pistachios. The peanut butter taste I love here is complicated - it brings salt, sweet, and a deep mellowness to the table. 

Finish: Interestingly, this is where some maritime elements emerge - as the peanuts and smoke recede, I get brine, sea salt, salt spray, and pure oceanic elements. A hint of oak and mild white pepper. The push of all these salty, tangy elements results in an unusual smooth, mild sourness that is actually quite refreshing. The smoke outlasts everything and results in a rather long finish. 

Verdict: Delicious stuff! No one ever talks about Caol Ila, but they should. This is every bit as interesting and drinkable as the Talisker 10 Year, with a distinct and pleasurable flavor profile. I would recommend this immediately for virtually any Scotch drinker, but especially to those who might appreciate an Islay that didn't hammer you in the face with peat, like The Big Three mentioned above tend to do. 

Link to the Caol Ila website for the 12 Year: http://www.malts.com/index.php/en_us/Our-Whiskies/Caol-Ila/The-Family