Home Tasting: Caol Ila 1996-2007 10 Year Kingsbury Helmsdale Christmas Edition 58.7%

One of 302 bottles, Hogshead Intentionally released after some time post-bottling. The intent is clear. Caol Ila CAOL ILA 1996-2007 10yo KINGSBURY HELMSDALE CHRISTMAS EDITION 58.7% One of 302 bottles, Hogshead ・Aroma: Fresh citrus, young leaves, a strong yet refined maltiness, freshly baked bread, vanilla, brine and seaweed notes, slightly chlorinated and cheesy, with a strong smoky peatiness. ・Flavor: Starts with an unexpectedly smooth mouthfeel, gradually revealing a spicy pepperiness. Fresh citrus, juicy young leaves, vanilla, strong fresh maltiness, refined syrup sweetness, citrus acidity, smoky fishiness, and a savory malty depth that lingers on the tongue. Clean and crisp. ・Aftertaste: Syrup sweetness and malty depth, with a strong peat finish. ・Dilution: The texture changes, developing a powdery, concentrated feel. ・Overall Review: A short-aged cask strength Caol Ila that has undergone bottle aging. Clearly refined beyond its specifications, with both mature and immature characteristics coexisting in an intriguing aroma profile. I appreciated the positive changes after dilution. [Good/Very Good] This Caol Ila 1996 was stored with the intention of bottle aging after being bottled by Kingsbury from Helmsdale in 2007. Released as a Christmas Edition in December 2014, meaning approximately seven years of bottle aging. It is likely that the initial mouthfeel was quite spicy, but after seven years in the bottle, it has begun to mellow. Particularly notable is the absence of mouthfeel stimulation and the textured, penetrating feel on the tongue—attributes likely due to bottle aging. I believe this is a cask that cleanly expresses Caol Ila's straightforward character: clean, sharp peatiness, and crispness. Consequently, the bottle aging effects are easily noticeable. Incidentally, the above tasting notes were from a newly opened bottle, which was already refined and pleasant at this stage. However, it became even more mellow over time after opening, which was interesting. Indeed, a nice release by Mr. Murakami of Helmsdale.