The finish in question here is Muscatel casks and you can tell that from the start, as the nose is filled with a rich, sweet, and very pronounced dusky fruitiness — sloes and plums. The smoke as a result is diminished as are the grassy/bacony notes. While the smoke does emerge from its fruity bubble on the tongue, the effect is almost liqueur-like. It’s a very pleasing dram, but the question is, is it Caol Ila?

Dave Broom, Whisky Advocate Summer 2012

Touches of creamy smoke, along with walnut rinds, almonds and lemongrass make this a sensually appealing whisky on the nose. The palate is perfectly rounded: sugared, pine smoke; sour spring grass; grapefruit; and, nutmeg linger in the mouth. Then comes a finish that keeps working until, a minute after it’s gone, you get a bitter bite that caps the experience off right at the back of the throat. It’s lovely.

Alwynne Gwilt, June 2012, www.misswhisky.com