Kategoriarkiv: Caol Ila

Caol Ila, Islay

Caol Ila Distiller’s Edition 2006/2017

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is peat and fruits. At first there’s a varm and sweet herbal and earthy peatiness with hay as a main direction. Inside there’s a mix of honey, green grapes, green apples and yellow pears. There’s a perfumey note on top and a funky complex note within. The moscatel finish really comes through the heavy peat. This is a great nose with a lot to explore. It feels balanced overall.

Mouth: It starts out very mild with a fruity mix and a sour tang in the back There’s a dusty oak note, it’s malty and there is a sweet chili-like rounded off spicyness. The peat covers the palate but lets the other flavours shine in the middle. There are ashes, warm campfire smoke and hay within. There are also ripe grape notes contrasting the otherwise bright fruitiness.

Finish: The transition is spicy but there’s not enough power in it to excel. It’s dry soil with white wine, a smokiness (like burning yellow grass) and a dusty note. The funky ripe note makes a reappearance but leaves just as fast. The oak brings tropical fruitiness but really never takes over. There’s a slight oak note with a peaty cover left in the mouth when the rest of the flavours fade. This is a great whisky. It could have been really amazing if it had a bit more power.

Additional information
All whiskies in Diageo’s ”The classic malts of Scotland” series are accompanied by a special Distiller’s Edition. This version of Caol Ila is finished in ex-Moscatel wine casks.

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Caol Ila, Islay

Caol Ila 25 YO

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a sooty peat with a fresher hay note within. The whole feels dry and mineral rich at first. When the peatiness settles there’s room for a honey sweetness and just a hint of marzipan and sponge cake underneath. An apple and pear fruitiness is in there as well as orange marmelade. There’s a ginger note floating around as well. Everything is quite laid back and mellow. This is a very nice nose. It feels a bit younger than the stated age though.

Mouth: It starts out with a mix of ginger and peat and it’s quite spicy even though it has low ABV. It’s lemon peel in the back, mineraly peat on the edges and a slightly spirity, aromatic and very sweet center with honey and vanilla. It feels way younger than its age at this point. There is some old oak notes floating around and there’s a hint of cooking spices attached to it, but at this point this isn’t the greatest experience. It feels pointy and unbalanced and nothing feels like it’s sitting in the right place. There’s a savory note arriving in the back for those who wait.

Finish: The transition is a continuation of the existing spicyness and the old oak, which is now increasing in intensity. It’s finally really showing its age with a lot of dusty oak notes and a hint of leather. The peat is still residing at the edges and never really feels like a part of the whole. The sweetness fades quickly and the late finish is all about a nice old bookcase and some lemon peel notes. This is a good whisky, but it really doesn’t deliver as a high end expensive islay whisky should. It’s all over the place, and it lacks power and complexity.

Additional information
This core range was aged for mostly in ex-bourbon barrels with some ex-sherry casks added as well.

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Caol Ila, Islay

Caol Ila 12 YO

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 2
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is lemon, honey and peat. The nose comes through as a layered experience. The first layer delivers the peat, which is a honey sweet smokiness from burning wood and hay. Not far behind is a layer of fruits, especially lemon and sour green apples. In the third layer, which is a bit further back, there’s dry soil, vanilla and a salty caramel. The vanilla moves up a layer with time in the glass.

Mouth: It starts out very sweet with honey and vanilla. The fruitiness comes forward on the sides, while the peat starts to fight with the sweetness in the middle. The citrus fruits, together with a malty note, bring through sort of an IPA note. They also create a white wine aura surrounding everything. There are still notes of earthy dry soil and a small hint of oak.

Finish: There’s no real impact at first. A mild chili pepper spicyness gently spreads and a mix of peat and lemon fills the mouth. It still has the IPA note in the middle. The vanilla and honey are both toned down. The oak comes through in a good place and it overpowers the peat and the lemon to become the focal point. The oak turns the fruitiness towards assorted tropical fruits. It has a nutty quality to it. It’s a very juicy finish and there’s no astringency. This is not as dramatic as the peat level would have you believe.

Additional information
This is the base level of Caol Ila’s core range. It’s aged in american ex-bourbon barrels for the full maturation. The ppm level is around 35.