Caol Ila 15 Year (Elixir Distillers)

 

I have taken a bit of a shine to older, more mature Islay expressions this last winter. They are softer, hazier, subtle, and complex. The peat punch to the face becomes a smoky breeze full of savory things and sweet things. So when I saw this 15 year Caol Ila while at a whisky tasting, I took a chance. It'll be the last bottle I get for a while (budget reasons) so I figured to make it something I could enjoy for some time to come. 

It's part of the Single Malts of Scotland line from Elixir Distillers, who also releases the Port Askaig line, the Elements of Islay line, the Black Tot rum releases, Tapatia tequila, and more. They also own Tormore distillery, and are building their own Islay distillery, to be called Portintruan. 

This Caol Ila spent 15 years in a "hogshead" (ex-bourbon), and is 55% ABV exactly. It's about 50% older than the vast majority of Caol Ila expressions released by independent bottlers, so let's see what that extra time does to the whisky:

Nose: The neck pour is almost exactly what I would have predicted an older Caol Ila to be like: the scent of bacon hanging in the air after being cooked in the oven, soft but significant iodine, malted barley, lemon (both sour flesh and bitter rind), hints of lime, coffee grounds, vanilla pods, dark chocolate, smoke, and close-grained wood. Some straight-up charcoal before being thrown on the grill. Everything is soft/rounded, but distinct - a result of the age, I'm sure. 

But deeper into the bottle, on the third or fourth pour, something magical happened. The nose became a wonderful bouquet of flowers, sweet spices, gentle peat and smoke, sweetened coffee, and chocolate. Delicate, flavorful, maritime, elegant. 

Mouthfeel: Medium, chewy. 

Palate: The neck pour is quite a nice palate, actually - vanilla cookies, dark chocolate, beef brisket, iodine, salt, ocean, smoke, wood fire, tar, ethanol, charcoal embers, ash. Layered. Invites repeated sipping. 

Again, deeper in the bottle it's a delight: salt water taffy, seaside flowers, lemon sugar cookies, soft peat and brine, gentle iodine, smoke, chocolate fudge. Amazingly moreish.

Finish: Tar, coal, chocolates, rope, smoke, wood, lemon. 

Verdict: A lovely, and elegant, older expression of Caol Ila. THIS is what I've been craving from that distillery for years now, having had a dozen or so bottles/samples of 8-10 year Caol Ila from various independent bottlers. 

This is the proper age for it, I think - it's complex, well-integrated, interesting, full of flavor, everything comes together, no weird angles. After the neck pour - which is great by itself - it becomes a real beauty. Recommended if you spot this in the wild.