Bursting with powerful flavour, Caol Ila Scotch does justice to its Islay home.
Pale straw.
Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and dentist's mouthwash. A fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke.
Smooth, pleasant mouth-feel: firm with a light to medium body.
Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish.
Sweet smokiness in the lingering, slightly sour finish.
Distillery: Caol IlaTM
Age: 12 years old
Strength: 43% ABV
Place of Origin: Port Askaig
Region: Islay
in brief… Fresh, sweetly fruity and smooth, with light smoke.
in a sentence… Sweet floral fragrances with a smooth body, balanced taste, and a sweet-smoky, lingering finish.
2009
2011
2014
2011
2007 & 2009
2008
2006 & 2016
2005, 2008 - 2009
2007
2010
"A balanced expression of peat in this version. A lot of intricate aromas in this dram."
Martine Nouet 2005, Whisky Magazine, Issue 50
"Better balance than the cask strength. The peat is at same level, but a greater range of aromatics has been brought out. Complexity emerges."
Dave Broom 2005, Whisky Magazine, Issue 50
"Barbecued fish and seaweed on the nose, oily bacon-fat, squeezed lemon and sweet smoke on the palate, immensely satisfying citrusy seaside barbecue of a finish."
Dominic Roskrow, Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015, p.93
"Iodine, fresh fish and smoked bacon feature on the nose, along with more delicate, floral notes. Smoke, malt, lemon and peat in the drying finish."
Gavin D Smith, Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015, p.93
"This version shows its character the best, a nose that mixes seashore and grass with a distinct hint of smoked bacon. The peatiness isn’t dominant, but flows throughout the palate, scenting, lifting, and subtly changing the mix. A delicious oiliness makes it a great food whisky."
Dave Broom, Whisky Advocate Summer 2012
"This is a splendid Coal Ila. It is wonderfully vibrant. Understandably, the immediate impact on the palate is the peat smoke, but there's so much else going on here, too: smoked olives, seaweed, salt and pepper, all placed on a gently sweet bed of toffee and vanilla fudge. Lingering smoke, olives, and seaweed on the finish."
John Hansell, Whisky Advocate Winter 2004
"A balanced expression of peat in this version. A lot of intricate aromas in this dram."
Martine Nouet 2005, Whisky Magazine, Issue 50
"Better balance than the cask strength. The peat is at same level, but a greater range of aromatics has been brought out. Complexity emerges."
Dave Broom 2005, Whisky Magazine, Issue 50
"Barbecued fish and seaweed on the nose, oily bacon-fat, squeezed lemon and sweet smoke on the palate, immensely satisfying citrusy seaside barbecue of a finish."
Dominic Roskrow, Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015, p.93