Review #1323 – Caol Ila 12yr Scotch Universe 2007 Callisto VIII

This is an independent bottling of spirit distilled at Caol Ila and bottled by Scotch Universe. This particular expression spent 12 years maturing in a first fill Ruby Port wine barrique before being bottled at cask strength, with no coloring or filtering. Lets dive in.

Review #1323 | Scotch Review #469

Distiller: Caol Ila

Bottler: Scotch Universe

Selection: N/A

ABV: 57.4% ABV

Age: 12 Years

Nose: Big bold peat. Sea air and brine. Faintly fishy. Lots of brine, some pepper, and then sweet fruits roll in. Syrupy cherry, light raspberry. Creamy strawberry. More pungent peat than fruit, though.

Taste: Medium mouth feel. Some heat. Prickly pepper. Then the smoke, ash, brine and sea air storm in. On the back palate is lots of creamy fruity – syrupy strawberry and raspberry. Heat grows over time. Quite hot by the end.

Finish: Long, but hot and massively peaty. The fruits are gone, replaced by loads of burning plastic, tannic oak, pepper and dead sea things.

Overall: Interesting and powerful, but disjointed and hot. This one could use some work in complexity if it wants to really reach much higher.

Thanks for reading!

Rank: 6

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Decoded:

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect