Caol Ila Distiller's Edition Coming to America!

Not so long ago a friend of mine picked up a bottle at the whisky shop in heathrow airport. Litle did I know that it would become my absolute favorite whisky and cement Caol Ila as my favorite distillery. Talisker and Caol Ila are responsible for my appreciation of peated Scotch.

2009 looks to be a great year for Scotch in America. Diageo has announced their line of 2009 Rare Edtions to be released world wide and there are some beauties in there (which we will talk about as soon as we get some).

Here is what the official releases say about this wonderful whisky:

With its abundant fresh sea air and robust, yet easy going disposition, Islay is birthplace to a unique malt Scotch whisky named Caol Ila (pronounced “Cul-Ela”).

The Caol Ila Distillers Edition finished in Moscatel casks creates an extraordinarily stylish and complex expression of Caol Ila; the Moscatel cask wood not over-evident; richly flavoured yet also drying and finely balanced.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance: Clear gold.
Nose: Peaty and medicinal, with rich fruit, spicy and fragrant. With water, the fragrant smokiness comes singing through.
Body: Medium.
Palate: Sweetness and maltiness strike first, then are quickly overwhelmed by peat smoke and intense, clean, crisp flavours. Caol Ila’s signature smoky bonfires are here, and build to quite a size. Overall, drying, in a beautifully balanced, complex, elegant development with cinnamon spice.
Finish: Long, rounded, robust and multi-layered.
Caol Ila DE: $79.99 SRP

We have been working on a larger piece on Caol Ila and the Distiller's Edition specifically that is still coming. Our tasting notes will be there. To prepare for that series of articles we have collected seven different expressions, both distillery and independent releases.