Caol Ila is the one distillery on this weblog with over 120 articles on this weblog. I’ve to put in writing ‘articles’ as a result of plenty of them include multiple bottle.
We’ll add six opinions to that record at this time. We attempt middle-aged Caol Ila distilled between 2007 and 2014 from completely different bottlers.
Caol Ila 13 yo 2007 (55,6%, The Whisky Trade 2021, hogshead #320247, 242 btl.)
Nostril: plenty of sooty notes, bandages and moist rocks. Additionally antiseptics, hints of moist concrete and seawater. Then the purest of lemon notes, with a touch of oak spice and earthy peat within the background. Fairly flawless whisky with an amazing sense of Islay.
Mouth: fairly juicy and shiny now. Lemons aplenty, with inexperienced apples and grilled lime. Mint leaves. Hints of Margaritas. Then again to grapefruit zest, salty notes and white pepper.
End: lengthy, smoky and salty, with extra lemons and reasonable tarry notes.
A pleasant lemon and mint combo, with medicinal notes. Exemplary Caol Ila, very pure however not too austere. Nonetheless obtainable from The Whisky Trade.
Caol Ila 13 yo 2007 (57,8%, The Whisky Blues 2021, refill hogshead #320319, 160 btl.)
Nostril: positively rounder. Extra vanilla custard and yellow apple. On the identical time the lemon juice shifted in direction of lemon sweet. Almond notes, even marzipan. Within the background there’s nonetheless a touch of seashells, grassy notes and earthy smoke.
Mouth: now the brine is again with a vengeance. Very coastal and acetic, with a natural bitter edge as effectively. Ginger and ginseng. Then oysters, chilly ashes and grapefruit zest, minerals and pepper. Iodine sharpness alongside liquorice and gentian.
End: lengthy, with ashy notes, salt, citrus peels, earthy notes and spice.
Fairly a powerhouse, this one. Fierce flavours so this will not be for everybody, however I like the depth. The one half I perceive from this web page is that it’s nonetheless in inventory… And Google Translate tells me so many massive fishes swim within the clear water. True that. Rating: 87/100
Caol Ila 12 yo 2009 (56,3%, Whisky Sponge 2022, second fill sherry butt, 374 btl.)
Nostril: the sherry butt steers this in a special path. There’s a delicate trace of toffee and syrupy berries, in addition to some cough syrup and calmly cured meats. Candy kecap. Nonetheless a saltiness coming by means of, with gentle tar and liquorice sweet.
Mouth: The tarry notes and salty liquorice are stronger now. There’s additionally smoked tea, briny kipper and a touch of natural potions. Smoked (and pickled) meats are within the background now. Citrus peels and hints of char too.
End: lengthy and natural, with a light-weight bitterness. Tobacco notes and a mustardy trace as effectively.
It is a very exact sherry affect, actually not overdone and somewhat on the dry aspect. It provides complexity whereas being restrained sufficient to maintain the briny spirit within the highlight. Nonetheless obtainable from Decadent Drinks. Rating: 88/100
Caol Ila 10 yo 2012 (56,7%, Thompson Bros for Royal Mile Whiskies, dechar/rechar hogshead, 270 btl.)
Nostril: barely boosted by the recharring. Grilled lemons, smoked almonds and wooden smoke (somewhat than peat maybe). Delicate yellow berries and bananas within the again. A bit of menthol too, in addition to some creosote and sea breeze.
Mouth: salty notes with pepper and a shiny lemony observe. Vanilla biscuits, aniseed and bananas once more. There’s a pleasant sparkle to it. Sappy wooden and slightly coconut as effectively. Barbecued lemons. Fairly easy – the energetic wooden brings alongside a sweetness that tends to overhaul the readability of the spirit.
End: fairly lengthy, with smoky notes, vanilla and almonds.
Added smoke, in addition to added sweetness. We’re undecided Caol Ila actually wants this type of therapy, but it surely’s an attention-grabbing variation. Unique to Royal Mile Whiskies, however bought out. Rating: 86/100
Caol Ila 2010 (57%, Swell de Spirits 2022, Jamaican rum cask end, 360 btl.)
Nostril: good coal smoke with loads of maritime notes, pine needles and a barely floral edge. Burnt rosemary and light-weight metallic notes. Then additionally a citrus sweetness and antiseptics.
Mouth: the rum sweetness continues, but it surely’s not overdone. Lots of iodine and briny notes. It additionally develops a natural bitterness and lemon zest. A refined trace of lavender. Candied ginger. Seaweed and sharp peat within the background.
End: lengthy, mineral and smoky, nonetheless exhibiting natural notes and aniseed.
Thus far I’ve by no means been blown away by whisky matured in Jamaican rum casks – Hampden and the likes have a tendency so as to add austerity greater than something. This SdS launch doesn’t actually change my thoughts. Rating: 83/100
Caol Ila 7 yo 2014 (59,1%, The Whisky Trade 2021, hogshead #311507, 251 btl.)
Nostril: somewhat full and meaty. Campfire smoke and steak on a smouldering barbecue. Some iodine and liquorice. Then basic maritime notes, oak char, moist plaster and buttery notes. Pilsner too. Beneath there may be some inexperienced apple and pastry sweetness. A deviation from the crisp and crystal-clear profile we’ve come to anticipate from younger Caol Ila, however attention-grabbing nonetheless.
Mouth: above-average peat ranges and medicinal notes for Caol Ila. That is fairly intense and highly effective. Then again it reveals loads of depth too, with extra of those barbecue notes, deep wooden smoke and good hints of darkish chocolate. Then warming ginger and black peppercorns, burnt citrus peels, in addition to some vegetal hints. In the long run some oaky grip.
End: lengthy, spicy, with pepper, lemon and a chalky observe.
A heavier model of Caol Ila. One for the true peatheads, I’d say. Whereas I wasn’t the largest fan of the cumbersome nostril, it positively impresses on the palate. Nonetheless obtainable from The Whisky Trade. Additionally as a 3 cl pattern if you happen to like. Rating: 86/100
