There’s all the time Caol Ila on our desk and occasionally, a sure pattern triggers me to do one other session. On this case it’s the newest WhiskyNerds bottling, a Caol Ila 2011.
I’m pairing it to different 2010 and 2011 spirit bottled by Signatory Vintage (for Whisky Dwell in Paris) and two variations from the Thompson Brothers (one for Kirsch Import, the opposite for Nickolls & Perks within the UK).
Caol Ila 10 yo 2011 (46%, Signatory Classic for Whisky Dwell Paris 2021, first fill bourbon barrel #310866, 300 btl.)
Nostril: candy citrus comes out first, with a pleasant trace of peach on the facet. Vanilla custard too. Slowly the smoky notes come creeping in. Heat ashes, iodine and roasted almonds. Actually good.
Mouth: once more a really balanced composition of vanilla, toffee and candy malty notes, mixed with ashes, seaweed, candy citrus and hazelnuts. Regardless of the pretty normal energy, it doesn’t lack depth. Refined woody notes in direction of the top.
End: fairly lengthy, on polished oak, moist rocks and hints of black pepper. Very good hints of mocha and Chokotoff because it fades away.
A superb one: very accessible with an ideal ingesting energy. The peaches on the nostril and the espresso / chocolate combo within the end raise it up above the already excessive common high quality of medium-aged Caol Ila.
Caol Ila 10 yo 2011 (52,7%, Thompson Brothers for Kirsch Import 2021, refill bourbon cask, 328 btl.)
Nostril: barely much less spherical, with a extra rubbery aroma. New bicycle tires. Behind this there’s a trace of dough and moist hay, in addition to yellow apples and a wee lactic notice. Candy herbs. The smoke appears to be dialed down a bit.
Mouth: a leafy / natural begin, with a much bigger trace of campfire smoke popping out. Nonetheless a rubbery trace. Then candy citrus and almonds, earlier than it turns in direction of grassy notes and natural hints. It feels a bit youthful than the Whisky Dwell bottling.
End: fairly lengthy, nonetheless exhibiting a damson sweetness, alongside tobacco and candy oak.
A barely rougher model, with just a few unusual notes. Fascinating and fairly advanced, this additionally has its deserves. Nonetheless accessible in German outlets for round € 70. Rating: 87/100
Caol Ila 11 yo 2010 (54,8%, Thompson Brothers for Nickolls & Perks 2021, dechar / rechar wine hogshead, 298 btl.)
Nostril: rejuvenated, so fairly in-your-face. Earthy notes, recent oak shavings, Mesquite wooden and a few smoky bacon. Mentholated notes within the background, in addition to pepper and lemon.
Mouth: massive smoke and massive wooden spice. Sea spray and seaside bonfire, with hints of coconut and pencil shavings. Contemporary vanillin with a pinch of salt. Extra barbecued meat after some time. Crisp lemon juice all through.
End: fairly lengthy, on lemons, lingering bonfires and mercurochrome, gentle vanilla and a natural notice.
Whereas this feels a bit pressure-cooked, there’s nothing to complain both. Punchy however completely clear. A bit extra woody affect although. Bought out. Rating: 86/100
Caol Ila 10 yo 2011 (57,5%, WhiskyNerds 2022, sherry hogshead #5846, 326 btl.)
Nostril: clearly extra sherried. Meaning extra tobacco notes, blended with smouldering bonfire, hay and a bit burnt sugar. Right here a touch of bicycle tire as nicely. Whiffs of Reypenaer XO, that are humorous however kinda work. Getting fairly minty after some time, and growing a touch of worn leather-based. Deep sooty notes (à la Springbank) within the background.
Mouth: oily and nonetheless exhibiting a whole lot of tobacco. As an alternative of the anticipated sherry sweetness, it exhibits a bitter contact and a evenly bitter woody notice. Natural notes, menthol and fairly an alcoholic footprint underscore this sharpness. Coastal smoke as nicely.
End: lengthy, barely scorching and tough. Hints of toffee and tar, with black pepper.
This sherried model begins rather well, with tobacco and leather-based including complexity. On the palate I felt a bit disenchanted, because it’s fairly sharp. Possibly taking part in round with water helps, however my pattern didn’t supply me that likelihood. Not their finest launch. Round € 100, unsure whether or not that is nonetheless accessible. Rating: 86/100
