CaolIla The Culprit (D.2007, B.2021) Chess Investigation Series /46%/ – In the early 2020 the Parisian retailer La Maison du Whisky announced release of ‘Chess Investigation Series’ in cooperation with Signatory Vintage. Seven expressions of Caol Ila have been released to date, with ‘The Culprit’ being the latest one (2021). Caol Ila The Culprit, the oldest expression in the range, was distilled 2007 and after being aged in ex-bourbon hogsheads was transferred into first fill Oloroso sherry butt, then bottled at 46% abv with an outrun of 891 bottles. The previous releases included Caol Ilas aged in bourbon barrels and hogshead, Oloroso sherry casks, and two finishes – ex-Ballechin Sauternes Wine Cask Finish and ex-Ballechin Burgundy Wine Cask Finish.
Nose: beautiful combination of sweetness and smokiness, raisins and sultanas, plums, black cherries, cocoa powder, caramel, sea salt, nutmeg, dash of black pepper and oak.
Palate: follows the nose, peat smoke, salted caramel, dark chocolate, marzipan, raisins, prunes, black currant jam, licorice, black pepper, black olives and sherried oak.
Finish: long, with notes of peat smoke, dark chocolate, salted almonds, red berries, pepper, allspice and oak.
