Caol Ila 1996/2008 12 Year Old Milano Whisky Festival

Every self-respecting whisky festival, just like the one in Milan, Italy, has its own festival bottle. In 2008, the Milano Whisky Festival presented a young Caol Ila of 12 years, distilled in August 1996 and bottled in September 2008. It's a single cask that yielded 150 bottles. It was bottled by Waddel Hepburn from Glasgow.

While the peat is obviously there, this is a rather soft nose, with vanilla and citrus at the fore. Slightly coastal and medicinal. Somewhat mineraly, too. And then, right out of the blue, comes a truckload of sea salt. It started out sweet and turned very salt. Brackish. And I also get something... burned.

The attack is softer than anticipated, slightly salty and creamy with smoked fish, scampi on the barbecue with garden herbs and some vanilla and licquorice in the background. Very complex indeed.

The finish lasts an eternity, is heartwarming and seasoned with both salt and pepper. Wonderful.

I'm getting more and more convinced that Caol Ila is the big under-appreciated Ileach malt.

Find where to buy Caol Ila whisky