Valinch & Mallet – Caol Ila 14 years old
50.7% – Cask Strength
14 yo – distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2016
Bottle #59 de 322
Single Cask aged in ex-Sherry Hogshead
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Valinch&Mallet is an independent bottler created by two Italian guys. They hand select only Single Cask that reflect their personal tastes rather than perfection. Their philosophy is quite interesting : ” Selecting single casks is not a science but a matter of taste, an art “. All their single casks are un-chill filtered, with no colour added, and hand-picked by the founders.
This particular expression is a 14 yo from Caol Ila, aged in Sherry Hogshead. It was initially part of 4 sister casks, ranging from 14yo to 17. As the years passed, the 16 and 17yo were abandoned as they did not held to the standards of V&M.
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Color : straw yellow.
Nose : Sherry thoroughly, very fat, with a slight peat in the background. It smells of dried apricots, dates, fruit jam. Peat is very important, bringing an eternal complexity.
Palate : oh that’s fat in the mouth ! The peat is much more present than on the nose, largely invading the palate with its notes of wetlands. Absolutely no trace of smoke, which I have rarely seen in peated whisky. From the second sip, a layer of complexity comes with a strong return of Sherry : candied fruits and marmalade. The flavors of the mouth remind me of my grandfather’s (huge) library: distinction, charm, luxury and collectible books.
Final : a superbly controlled finale in power, like a top-corner slap-shot in the Stanley Cup final. Explosion of flavours that goes down slowly and dry up the palate.
Comments : a very classy presentation for a Scotch out of the ordinary. Honestly one of the best I ever drank with all the elements to please me : Sherry cask, peat, power, complexity, control … The alcohol level is just perfect. you are in the presence of an absolutely beautiful whisky no one should pass on, whether you like peat/Sherry or not. This whisky is as decadent as Rome at the peak of its power !
Valinch&Mallet - Caol Ila 14 yo
99%Reader's Review