CAOL ILA 2013 Suspicion Chess Investigation Series

The first bottling in the Chess Investigation series, Suspicion opens the inquiry into the Caol Ila distillery. Bottled at 46% without chill filtration, this young release distilled in 2013 comes from a carefully selected single bourbon hogshead. The hogshead is a cask rebuilt from ex-bourbon staves with a small proportion of new oak, holding roughly 250 litres. It marks the spirit moderately, allowing a slow, gradual maturation as the wood aromas gradually integrate into the whisky's profile. A limited edition of 351 bottles. The Scottish island of Islay has its share of iconic distilleries, known and recognised for their peated whiskies. Caol Ila is one of those names that resonate with enthusiasts and conjure images of windswept beaches at low tide, of wave-battered rocks covered in seaweed and kelp, of peaceful harbours where fishing boats lie at anchor watched from above by gulls, and of course of whitewashed distilleries releasing smoke laden with the scents of peat and grain.