Caol Ila 2010

Virgin oak casks can impart a huge influence in a very short time, even on second filling: for this release we decided to dare a longer than usual finish in this kind of barrel, and the result is very interesting. At the nose the presence of very aromatic and balsamic oak is unmistakeable: a note of wooden furniture, of pine resin, with the peat staying hidden behind it. At the palate it’s less sweet than expected: again quite oaky, with warm notes of herbal tea, woods in autumn, damp soil. The smokiness is not restrained, but it’s integrated into a very earthy and dark profile that’s different from the typical Islay character. The finale is quite dry, tannic, very peppery.