Going back to Scotland after a short detour to SA, let’s check another one from the latest batch of The Whisky Exchange exclusives, a peated young Caol Ila.

It’s a 2007 vintage that was bottled in May 2016 making it a 8 Year Old whisky. 320 bottles were bottled from this 200L barrel thanks to a non cask strength ABV of 46%.

Caol Ila 2007 8 Year Old Signatory Vintage for TWE (46%, £55.95, Cask #315325)

Nose: Starts with sweet peat and smoke which mostly dissipate after a minute or two. I have to say I was a bit surprised to notice how gentle was the peat after only 8 years, I guess the barrel was quite active (maybe 1st refill?). Honey, lots of tropical fruitiness with the peat smoke is taking the back seat, green melon, kiwi and unripe mango with light fragrance.

Palate: Peatier here, ashes, very sweet, also malty along the fruitiness, green melon, kiwi, honey and oak wood spices.

Finish: Short (but medium for lingering peatiness) length, malt, gentle oak wood spices, sweet honey and tropical fruitiness.

Thoughts: A solid young Caol Ila. It has those nice tropical fruitiness and strong sweetness. The only drawback? Not the whisky itself but the price as I feel it’s a bit on the expensive side for a young whisky not bottled in cask strength. But if the price is a non-issue for you, it’s pretty good choice for a summer evening dram to accompany a proper BBQ.

(Official sample provided by The Whisky Exchange)