2010 Caol Ila 14 Year Old "Old Particular" K&L Exclusive Single Hogsheads Cask Strength Single Refill Hogshead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

If you weren’t aware, I’m a total sucker for Caol Ila. It’s a very large distillery, but only a fraction of its total production makes it out as single malt. I’ve even heard rumors that significant quantities of unpeated malt are produced for their blending needs. One thing I love about Caol Ila is that, like some of its Islay neighbors, it’s remarkably multifaceted. It’s difficult to determine whether these stylistic ranges are intentional, like Bruichladdich, or seasonal, like Laphroaig, but we have three barrels this year of different styles and ages, each in classic refill hogsheads. The idea was to capture three faces of Caol Ila and present them at stupendous prices. This barrel, the oldest of the trio, was likewise aged in a refill hogshead but offers quite a different character from the other two. A lovely little pale gold (0.4), it opens with a nose that is pure Islay, full of powerful peat and dense wet turf. With air, subtle sweet cereal character and tense dark pepper notes appear. The palate, by contrast, offers dense sweet malt and complex barrel spice. The middle brings cracking pine smoke, sooty earthy peat, and dusty, rich, smoldering anthracite coal. The creamy texture and round, rich finish bring the wild ride to a satisfying close. The sweetness turns up to eleven along with the dense smoke. A total classic on arrival. Very tasty stuff.