2009 Caol Ila 5 Year Old "K&L Exclusive - Hepburn's Choice" Single Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This is our second cask of young Caol Ila under the Hepburn's Choice label and our decision to re-order was based on the tremendous success of the previous edition. We weren't sure how our customers would react to such a youthful and unabashed expression of Islay intensity, but what we discovered was that young Islay whisky tastes rather wonderful. In this five year old cask of Caol Ila there's a roasted barley note immediately that wraps around the fruit and continues to squeeze on the palate until shaken off by the salty, sea water note that washes into the finish. A second sip shows more pure peat flavor and bright phenolic notes that again get lost in the fruitiness of the Caol Ila spirit. This is another fun one for true fans of Islay and for whisky geeks looking to understand the various stages of single malt maturation.