(Image Source: Diageo)

Diageo has been on a major overhauling spree, doubling down on its portfolio of Scotch distilleries over the past several years - spending some GBP 185 million to transform its distilleries's facilities to be more experiential and accessible to tourists. The project was focused on Diageo's Four Corners distilleries - Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clynelish and Glenkinchie.

One of the distillery's that benefited from this transformation was Islay distillery Caol Ila, which has just unveiled its new visitor experience centre.

(Image Source: Diageo)

To celebrate its the opening of its new visitor experience, the smoky Scotch distillery has released a new 14 Year Old limited edition expression.

"The Caol Ila distillery exclusive is a beautiful celebration of the distillery’s character, exclusively matured for 14 years in American Oak refill casks and freshly charred American Oak casks. With additional spicy, creamy and sweet notes coming through from the recharred casks, this cask-strength whisky expands on all the expected characters found in Caol Ila, with bonfire aromas and a crisp taste, turning sweetness into salt to deliver a charred smoke finish."

(Image Source: Diageo)

"This delicious Caol Ila expands on all the expected characters; coal-tar and bonfire aromas, a firm, crisp taste, sweetness turning to salt, and a pleasing finish with charred smoke."

(Image Source: Malts.com)

Official Tasting Notes

Color

Bright 18 Carat Gold, Exceptional Beading

Aroma

Mellow in feel, with light prickle. Clean and fresh throughout, with vaguely medicinal notes and the faint smokiness of an extinguished beach-bonfire always there behind them.

The first impression is mildly medicinal, as with the aroma of an antiseptic cream. An elusive pastry note lies beneath on a base of freshly laundered linen. The medicinal notes increase in the development, then subside with water, which brings out a note of damp wool, like a freshly washed jumper.

Body

Medium

Taste

A smooth texture and a sweet start; clean, noticeably smoky and leaving a trail as clear as a lit gunpowder fuse. A shake of salt for balance. The taste becomes sweeter with a splash of water, no more, when there is also light acidity and more salt. Surprisingly mild, compared to the taste at natural strength. And delicious.

Finish

Long and pleasantly hot, while a last lightly charred, spicy note lingers in the aftertaste. With water, the heat subsides, and the spiciness lingers.

The new Caol Ila 14 Year Old expression will carry an RRP of 150 GBP, and is bottled at 53% ABV, with 3,000 bottles made available.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot