Caol Ila 2008 13 Year Old, Infrequent Flyers Cask #1820

Whisky: Caol Ila 2008 13 Year Old, Infrequent Flyers Cask #1820

Region: Islay

ABV: 55.2%

Price: £95

The Alistair Walker Whisky Company, based in Grangemouth, Central Scotland, was established in 2018 by as you may have guessed Alister Walker who had previously worked at BenRiach in sales. This bottling has had a PX finish and is as dark as tar.

Nose

On the nose we’re getting sultanas, cherries, toffee and cinnamon. There’s also some smoked brisket, orange zest, and sea breeze.

Palate

Palate is Initial very sweet followed by charcoal and smoke. Some warming chilli spice. Short to medium length finish where the smoke fades to leave brandy soaked raisins. The cask and spirit work well together here. The sherry and smoke are well integrated which is surprising looking at the colour.

Nose (with water)

Imagine chucking some toffee on a barbecue. Followed up by some pepper, barbecue sauce and brown sugar.

Palate (with water)

Sherry takes the lead with the peat becoming a supporting actor. The palate here is reminiscent of mulled wine and Christmas cake, with a touch of tobacco and cherry.

Conclusion

This is a hell of a sherry bomb, but one that has peat/spirit/sherry well integrated. This is our first infrequent flyers bottle and we’re looking forward to trying future releases. 

Score: 8/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Caol Ila 2008 13 Year Old, Infrequent Flyers Cask #1820? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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