Caol Ila A Seaside Picnic SMWS 2007 12y 53.344

I decided to crack this one open for Burns Night a few nights ago and I'm definitely glad I did! SMWS lists the tasting notes on the bottle as follows: Barley, honey and biscuity notes are overtaken by aromas of brine - notes of rock-pools, lobster claws, sea breezes over marram grass and oysters. Of the bottles that I picked up in the January outturn from SMWS, this one definitely hits closest to the SMWS tasting notes put on the bottle!

Dubbed "A Seaside Picnic," this pour lives up to its billing as it has a beautifully briny nose reminiscent of a day shucking oysters. The palate comes on strong with a blast of charred oak that transitions into green apples and grapefruit candies. The finish is what truly sets this off, as it transitions from spicy to sweet so well and just leaves you with a warm hug that will not let go. Given I've set my standard for the difference between "Good" and "Great" as a "pour that I'm still thinking about the next day," this one definitely made it into that "Great" tier. Just a wonderful dram! Check out my IG review page and shoot me a follow over at www.instagram.com/notlawreviews !