An Islay classic that we will never get enough of. Caol Ila 12 year old is the entry-level bottling from the Caol Ila distillery, launched in June of 2002. Caol Ila is the largest of the Islay distilleries by output and so it’s a favourite of brands, independent bottlers, and blends like Johnnie Walker.
Caol Ila 12 Year Old appeals to connoisseurs while also making the perfect entry to the world of peated whisky for newcomers, with its beautifully measured and mellow smokiness and a rich array of seaside flavours. It’s a serial award-winner that works great in cocktails (we recommend a smoky Highball), as well as being a good whisky to pair with salty and savoury foods.
Fresh, herbal. Rubbed peppermint leaves, stemmy, damp grass, smoky. Oily, cigar leaves, smoked ham, hickory. Lemon peels at the harbour.
Good body, oily, tar, elegant smoke. Hints of boiled sweets.
Long, peppery, spicy warmth, smoke.
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Nose - strong salty Leather, Cut apples, olive oil and fresh cherry Palate - Opens with a very light, dry pear, and mild burnt grass and light honey, then starts to get smoky as the mild flavors like almonds changing to something a little citrus, staying light throughout. Finish - light, mild, honey-sweet, tinapa, apple orange salad aftertaste Second Finish is a taste of sweet berries and some lingering salt along the toungue and lingering smoke
This has the signature characteristics of an Islay malt but it's a bit thin and lacking in body. I added 25ml of Caol Ila 12 to 40ml of Royal Lochnagar 12 and it worked. This blend has the bite and salinity of Islay but with added body and sweetness. Alternatively, buy an Oban 14, which is just lovely.
Nice Islay malt. Chameleon flavours. Sour and sweet, gooseberry, smokey, mildly carbolic, slightly salty. Quite a complex young malt and not for beginners. I prefer an Ardbeg or Lagavulin, but this is a nice change if pace.
This is an everyday dram for me. Smoky peat blasts of fresh heather. Grapefruit maybe. Lingers after, salty tingles. Try 1 then 2 drops of water to bring out a creamy sweetness. So smooth on the swallow. Stunning.
I never really knew much about this distillery on Islay, tried several drams and settled on this monster of a whisky. My absolute new favourite, nipping Ardbeg Uigeadail at the post for complexity, depth and of course the peat you know is going to smack you in the face if you're drinking an Islay liquid. One nice measure can last an entire evening, keeping you basked in bonfire, tar and smoke as you work your way down the glass. It is an acquired taste as many Islay single malts are but this is one behemoth of a dram and now I find myself pining for the taste if I have anything else that doesn't measure up to the punch this delivers to your taste buds. I'll take a case.
