Caol Ila 8y/o 2010 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead #311709 Adelphi 54.9%ABV 30ml

One from the vaults - an unbelievable Caol Ila from Adelphi - tastes much more mature than its 8 years although it tastes bigger than the 54.9% stated on the bottle more like 58 or 59%. This is one of the original legendary 'Cola Ali' casks - named for the colour and adopted by Dramfool on their labels later for sherried secret Islay from Caol Ila. This is atypical Caol Ila as the signature smokey ash and citrus is not to the fore. This was described as 'dense and intense' and it is meaty - barbecued meats, Chinese duck with soy sauce, but not very smokey - berries and leather also. Fantastic mouthfeel - oily and unctuous it coats the mouth in deliciousness. Sherry and peat often doesn't work but Adelphi is an independent bottler that seems to get it right particularly in the past anyway.