Caol Ila 12yo 1992/2005 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, C#1830, 388 Bts., D10/’92 B05/’05)

Another single cask bottling by Douglas Laing & Co, without chill filtration and ‘no colouring’ and from a refill hogshead. The nose reveals good peat smoke, burnt twigs, hints of Dettol and iodine. So far it’s an Islay lovers delight. There is also cocoa, wafts of a lumber yard (think of piles of saw dust and freshly cut cedar), malt dust, sweet vanilla and some hints of junipers. Nice and solid. The taste is a crescendo of peat smoke backed by the juniper and then the sweetness along with some apples, the burnt twigs an then some more peat smoke. Excellent! Some water creates whirls and eddies in the glass and changes the whisky some; smoother and sweeter but the peat smoke is still the dominate characteristic and it’s very good. A little water goes a long way and improves it quite a bit. The finish is creamy at first, peated and then wood spice along with Fry’s unsweetened cocoa and then the creaminess once again. It is big, long and warming. There is loads of peat smoke for those that want it. After nearly 10 minutes the finish is still quite evident but has now changed to elastoplast bandages. 

A cracker of a Caol Ila and shows the brilliance of a refill hogs head and peat smoke.

Score 88 points

Many thanks for the sample Rich!