Caol Ila 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)

Today’s whisky is a single cask of Caol Ila, bottled at cask strength by Secret Spirits specifically for this advent calendar. It was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2018, making it 9 years old.

This is part of a series of blind tastings from the “The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Edition” advent calendar. I do not know what is in the calendar, so every one of these reviews is 100% no prior knowledge.

1. Macduff 2003 14yo (Single Cask Nation)
2. Wemyss Wooden Chest
3. Lost Distillery Company Auchnagie Classic
4. Glen Moray 2008 9yo #5764 (Secret Spirits)
5. Craigellachie 12yo 2006 Cask Strength (Secret Spirits)
6. Exclusive Malts Islay Sherry Cask (Laphroaig)
7. Adelphi Breath of Speyside 2006 (11yo)
8. Balmenach 2004 13yo (Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask)
9. Glen Moray 2007 10yo (A.D. Rattray)
10. Royal Brackla 2006 11yo (Secret Spirits)
11. Wemyss Delicious Burst
12. Lost Distillery Company Stratheden Classic
13. Auchinderom - Peated Glenglassaugh (Malt Whisky Company)
14. Knockdhu 2009 9yo (A.D. Rattray)
15. Caol Ila 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
16. Wemyss Nectar Grove
17. Glentauchers 2008 10yo (Secret Spirits)
18. Glenallachie 2009 9yo (Secret Spirits)
19. Williamson (Laphroaig) 2005 13yo (A.D. Rattray)
20. Stones of Stenness Orkney Aged 18yo (Single Cask Nation)
21. Inchgower 1995 21yo (Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask)
22. Towiemore Archivist (Lost Distillery Company)
23. North British 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)
24. Inchmurrin 1996 21yo (Secret Spirits)
25. Glen Grant 1988 30yo (A.D. Rattray)

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Distiller: Caol Ila
Bottler: Secret Spirits
Distilled: 2009
Bottled: 2018
ABV: 59.5%
Age: 9yo
Cask type: ex-Bourbon
Source: The Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar 5th Ed.
Setting: Blind

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Nose: Campfire, ashy smoke, charred orange, peanut shells, earth. Straight forward middle-of-the-road Islay.
Palate: Light, but full, round and creamy mouthfeel carrying vanilla, ash and butter notes.
Finish: Widens to a salty seaweed and citric smoke with a clear honied sweetness that slowly fades.
Overall: Happy to be getting some more peaty stuff here. This whisky had a very nice nose, a not-overwhelming peat that was well balanced with the cask character and was beginning to show some funk. Seems to be slightly middling proof, but it’s easy drinking and it’s not the kind of peated whisky that rips your head off the moment enters your mouth. A really nice sipper.

Rank: 6