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3rd September 2013 |
Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve
 This
is the 8th release of the popular unpeated limited edition of Caol Ila
which this year carries "No Age
Statement" but instead has the subtitle
"Stitchell Reserve" in honour of distillery manager Billy Stitchell
who is due to retire this year.
A limited release from refill American
Oak, rejuvenated American Oak and
ex-bodega European Oak casks but Diageo
haven't declared how many bottles in the
release. Bottled at a cask
strength of 59.6% ABV. RRP £70.
Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve Tasting Notes
Producer's Tasting Notes:
Appearance:
Clear, olive gold. Light beading.
Nose:
At full strength, immediately clean,
aromatic and fresh: like inhaling
Friar’s Balsam. After this first blast,
more reticent; softly sweet, then a
vivid freshness like that of crisp green
fruit or lemon zest. Water raises a
fruity, nutty honeyed sweetness and a
faint note of treacle, with perhaps just
a hazy hint of smoke.
Body:
Light to medium. Oily, yet firm.
Palate:
Drinks well straight; has an intense and
in your face style, with a most
appealing smooth, lightly oily texture.
Firm, clean and fresh throughout.
Intense and mouth-filling, with a great
initial surge of sweet spiciness
unaccompanied by the usual signature
phenols of peated Caol Ila or indeed,
much fruit. Becoming honey-nutty (nut
brittle, with a dark edge of treacle
bitterness) then finally, warming and
drying. A good splash of water develops
these flavours; it’s tongue-coating and
appetisingly bitter-sweet now, leaving a
spicy dryness as the tide of flavour
ebbs.
Finish:
Aromatic, spicy and drying; a balancing
bitter edge embraces more of the soft
nutty, biscuity notes, always
maintaining that essential freshness
overall.
Summary:
A smooth-talking, easy-drinking
powerhouse. A powerfully, punchy,
warming and sweet-spicy whisky with a
mighty vitality and a smooth texture:
the clean, fresh bitter-sweet nutty
flavours give it a character all of its
own and it’s a perfect testament to a
remarkable whisky making dynasty.
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Other Diageo 2013 Special Releases
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tasting notes.
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