80
Score
Caol Ila Distillers Edition 1998, 43%
Price: ● Issue: Summer 2012 ● Reviewer: Dave Broom ● Category: Single Malt Scotch
The finish in question here is Muscatel casks and you can tell that from the start, as the nose is filled with a rich, sweet, and very pronounced dusky fruitiness — sloes and plums. The smoke as a result is diminished as are the grassy/bacony notes. While the smoke does emerge from its fruity bubble on the tongue, the effect is almost liqueur-like. It's a very pleasing dram, but the question is, is it Caol Ila?
