I am a long-time fan of Caol Ila, the largest (by far) distillery on Islay. Although much of Caol Ila's output is unpeated and sent to the blender, they do release a nice little 12 Year official bottling, along with a few other official releases I've never actually seen in the wild.
Yet everyone always says that Caol Ila really shines in the hands of independent bottlers, and this bottle hails from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS). They code it 53.338, and name it The Quay to Success ... which gives you definite hints as to the character of the spirit within. Bottled at 55.6% ABV, and - like all SMWS releases - naturally colored and unfiltered.
Nose: Sandy tar, rubbery phenols from the peat, medicinal iodine, smoke, sweet vanilla buried underneath, and seaweed. Over time in the glass, the vanilla and the seaweed take hold. Definitely coastal/maritime in nature, and very similar to other bottlings of Caol Ila I've had.
Mouthfeel: Full and oily.
Palate: Kippers, hot tar, peat, more clean vanilla, a saline minerality (water pooling in rocks), more seaweed, and smoke. Very little alcohol burn despite the natural strength.
Finish: Wood smoke... toasted oak and a smoke that lasts on your tongue for a long while. A decidedly long finish.
Verdict: This is maybe the best presentation of the core Caol Ila personality I've come across. It has the peat, the coastal aromas and flavors, the bonfire smoke, and that nice seaweed note, and they're all crisp and clean. Worth exploring if you can obtain it.
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