Caol Ila 2016 8 Year Single Cask No. 303512 (Vintage Bottlers)

Review #100 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 60.15% Comments: aged 8 years (just 3 weeks shy of turning 9), refill hogshead matured Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Pale gold color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, it starts to bead up quickly but legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Sooty peat smoke, vanilla, well-done toast, non-buttered popcorn, lemon peel, a very enjoyable briny costal salinity, rubber tires, and some sea spray. Palate: 35/40 Youthful and punchy, but with a nice oily mouthfeel. The peat smoke once again dominates, and is sharp and biting, layered with bitter ashes and some lemon citrus. It has an almost medicinal flavor profile. There’s also less prominent flavors of grain cereal and oak spice which take some time to reveal themselves. Finish: 33/40 Medium finish. Oak spice and ashes get us started. There’s a short pop of creamy vanilla which is quickly dominated by citrus in the form of lemon zest and grapefruit peel, giving it a somewhat bitter flavor. As these slowly fade the oak spice and peat smoke come back into focus, ending on a mildly salty note. With Water: A few drops of water softens the peat smoke a bit on the nose, and really helps that briny maritime aroma pop. The smoke is also less evident on the palate and finish, replaced by vanilla which has taken on a much more prominent flavor profile. Total: 85/100 Final thoughts: This is a sample from a private cask which I thoroughly enjoyed trying. To be honest I might mistake it for Laphroaig in a blind tasting (prior to adding water, anyway), and personally preferred it a lot more before the water reduction. Can’t wait to sample this again in a few more years! Price: £35 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.