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- $185.00
- ABV: 58%
- Size: 70cl
Finished in: Ex Sauternes Wine Cask
Distilled in: 2010
Bottled on: 2020
LMDW exclusive
Off the coast of Scotland, a ferry pierces the shimmering reflections of the Islay strait. Behind a shroud of white sea spray, we glimpse the outline of the white walls of the Caol Ila distillery. The fifth chapter in the Chess Investigation collection, created by La Maison du Whisky last spring, The Suspects presents a Caol Ila finished in a cask previously containing a Ballechin which had been aged in a Sauternes barrel. Bottled at cask strength, this extremely nuanced version reveals a peat which, like a knight moving freely across a chess board, travels constantly along, up and across a palette of flavours and aromas that is also stately, superbly honey, floral, chocolate and surprisingly fruity (raspberry, red currant).
Profile: the powerful first nose is peaty and smoky. Next, citrus fruit (lemon), cut hay, juicy pear and dark chocolate play the troublemaker. Allowed to breathe, peat takes the upper hand. It is oily, iodine, salty and medicinal (camphor). The very ashy attack is also chocolaty and marine (seaweed). On the mid-palate, almond milk and fresh walnut delicately cover the taste buds. It becomes honeyed (lavender). The heady start of the finish reveals an oily, mineral (schist) and fruity (raspberry, coconut) peat. Gradually, strong spices (clove, nutmeg) and ginger soak into whole blocks of peat.
