CAOL ILA 7 ans 2010 The Chronicles Elixir Distillers

Nose : fine, distinguished. From the start, a very ethereal smoke nuanced with deliciously lemon fragrances hits hard. To either side, freshly cut grass, vanilla and coconut descend the slopes of this particularly volcanic start. Next, peat appears, ousting the smoke. Which is to say, the nose becomes more powerful.

Palate : mellow, creamy. A hint of smoke and ash take centre stage on the attack. Heady florals (broom, iris), strong spices (clove, nutmeg), peppermint, verbena and vanilla then take over the mid-palate. Gradually, it becomes praline, roasted (coffee) and herbaceous (pipe tobacco). The extremely well-defined flavour palette reveals remarkably clear expression.

Overall : long, elegant. The very sooty finish brings us to a hearth where twigs crackle in the fire. Saline and mineral, it is characterized by notes of blue agave and slate. At the very end of the palate, citrus fruit (grapefruit) and fresh fruit (pear, Mirabelle plum) brings lots of refreshment. As on the nose, the retronasal olfaction stages a fairly oily, chocolatey, vegetal and mentholated peat. The empty glass is smoky, liquorice and spicy (star anise).