Fable Chapter One - Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2010

It took me a bit to get this one figured out. For those unfamiliar, 'Fable Whisky' is a newer brand that independently bottles single malt whisky. Two individuals established Fable in 2020. They are directors of a Scotland-based company. Fable's market entry is marked by creative arts-focused marketing, emphasizing branding through animation, artwork, music, and pottery. Two collections, or 'volumes,' are currently available. Volume 1 explores the legend of 'The Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay,' a tale from Scotland's Southwest Coast, near Stranraer. Working with an artist, Fable aimed to craft 'an enchanted world,' with label illustrations of characters and scenes forming eleven 'Chapters.' This series will cover chapters one through five. Chapter one alone has seen 17 releases, featuring distillate from 2008 to 2014. All are Cool Ila distillate aged in ex-bourbon refill Hogsheads for 8-12 years and offered as single cask expressions at cask strength. Each release has between 190-320 bottles and targets different global markets. Tonight's pour is the 5th release (cask number 313836), distilled 16/08/2010 and aged 10 years. 311 bottles were filled at 57.3% on 27/07/2021 for the Australian, Danish, and UK markets. Nose: Clean and surprisingly subtle, showing no hint of the high ABV. A prominent savory salted meat character is present, with abundant smoky and briny BBQ aromas. A faint preserved lemon and herbaceous pepper come through easily. With more time, it evokes a maritime setting with pebble beaches and a hint of creosoted salty wood subtly linked to toasted grains. It's a bit direct and simple, which isn't a negative here; it's executed very well, in my opinion. Palate: The ABV hits here, immediately drying and with a residual harsh roughness like sandpaper on the tongue. Yet, there's plenty of flavor. Heavy charcoal, burnt BBQ remnants, honey and red chilies, wholemeal toast, a very slight apple crunch and freshness. Preserved lemon. Leathery, with some indistinct anise. Finish: Long. Smoked meat remains aggressively forward, with a bit of dusty oatmeal, chili, and black pepper. My first taste of Caol Ila was in 2016, a half-empty bottle of CI12. The only thing I recall is preserved lemon. That's present here, so I suppose that's weak confirmation this liquid is indeed an Islay classic. However, I'm profoundly disappointed tonight. The nose is an exploration of simple perfection, light, engaging, subtle, and enjoyable. What follows, though, is unbridled, unrestrained, and harsh. Perhaps I am being harsh now. The immediate rough dryness that scrapes across the tongue prevents any palate development from occurring. I suspect there might be some lovely peat notes, but burnt meat and charcoal dominate. The malt feels wholesome and substantial, but it's hidden. The lemon, leathery anise, and touch of apple freshness are desperately needed but barely make an appearance. The chili-laden finish is like a cheap imitation of Talisker. So, yes, I'm disappointed. A clear case of style over substance. Plenty of points for style, though! Adding water: A drop or two brings out a fresh grass/gooseberry note on the nose that I find great, but it leaves the palate watery and ashy with only light chili on the finish. Maybe add water and just enjoy the aroma? No rock tonight, instead, Fables tells the tale of the Ghost Piper of Clanyard Bay. 'Once, a small settlement stood on a sea cliff in Scotland’s rugged southwest. While the four cardinal directions offered different landscapes – east to the borders, north to the country's interior, south to glacial lakes, and west by sea – the locals remained. The land, which should have been barren, was surprisingly fertile for farming (a well-guarded secret). Enduring heavy rain, these were tough people, as resilient as the granite beneath them. They weren't easily scared or prone to complaining, except for one peculiar thing. On stormy nights, when the moon was almost obscured, eerie screams seemed to emanate from below. Where crashing waves met a jagged bay, a gaping, hollow cave existed. The cave remained undisturbed until, one day during the thaw, an old piper arrived with a dog. The large hound was as grey as its owner's beard. The piper was undoubtedly the finest in the land (as his father likely was before him). His bagpipes were roughly made, yet they produced a cheerful sound that even silenced the crows. No one had ever heard such joyful music. Accompanied by his loyal dog, the piper entered the cave, playing boldly. The locals waited at the entrance, listening. Hours passed, the pipes grew fainter until silence fell. Suddenly, the once shaggy hound bolted from the cave, howling, its fur completely gone. Deep within the earth, the piper continued to play as the fairies cursed him, ordering him to leave. He pressed on, a chill upon him, towards a distant light. His music rose above the terrible cries until the piper reached the cave's center. The piper was now in the heart of a fierce storm yet continued to play. Enraged at being outdone by a human, the fairies departed, leaving behind a maze of passages to ensnare the piper. He was never seen again, and no settler could recall his face. The cave's entrance has long since vanished, but heed my warning! Stand on that cliff in the dead of night, and a faint melody of pipes can still be heard rising from the depths below.' Fable running scores: Chapter 1 - Call Ila 10, 2010: 2.75/5

Tasted without knowing the identity. Nose: Immediately very pleasing. Peaty, light, and warm. It resembles Kilchoman. Taste: Similar to the nose, with a light fruity finish. Wood Influence: Bourbon Rating: 4 stars