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Islay distillery Caol Ila is renowned for its peat smoke – but there's so much more to this single malt than merely its ember qualities, as Diageo likes to remind us every so often with the launch of an unpeated expression. This is what we have here with this 18 year old, American oak hogshead-matured, natural cask strength single malt. Once a year the distillery swaps out its peated regimen for unpeated production runs, and the fruits of that labour shine through in this fragrant little number. But it's still got that Caol Ila signature – we even detected a whisper of smoke on the finish. Tasty stuff.
These bottles were part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!>
At the tasting we attended, "chocolate digestives" was met with universal agreement. Quite creamy with bourbon hints and sliced peaches too.
Fruitier now, fragrant and concentrated with a little furniture polish. This is complemented by the expected soft caramel and clean seashell character.
Cake-like with just a hint of smoke (even though this is 'unpeated').
Just a superb whisky. Caol ila is Quickly becoming one of my favourite distillery’s. This is 59.8% yet it’s smooth enough to drink neat. If you add a little water the nose and flavours intensify dramatically. On the nose you get sweet citrus & Sharp fruits, morning dew, damp soil, vanilla, spices. The taste is intense, salty bursts, sweet, sour, spice, custard. There’s more, but my pallet isn’t experienced enough yet to pick them out. The finish is long, a hint of background smoke appears at last, very subtle though, sweetness, bitterness, chocolate, warming spices. It’s beautifully complex.
I picked this up in a hurry at the duty free this king it's going to be the normal, peated Caol Ila 18yo (something I've been looking for for a long time). When I read through the labelling I had mixed feelings ....what would this be like, really? I'm now delighted to say, she's a keeper. Stunning and unique. First up give it air for 10-15 minutes. Then the nose is chocolatey, malty, creamy with vanilla and lime. Palate is gorgeously full and classic oily Caol Ila style. Love it. Salty, but deliciously sweet also - sweet lime, a whack of caramel. Just a faint whiff of peat and chili heat on the looong finish. It's a beast, but sleek and sophisticated - if you add a few drops of water and give it time to air, you hardly feel the high ABV. Overall, a class act and unique. For single malt pilgrims who have traveled some distance and looking for something new - go for it. Personally, I'll treasure every sip of this.
Tremendous whiskey. Has the standard Caol Ila viscosity in a more powerful punch. Cutting with about 5-10ml of water, for me, seems to bring out a perfect balance for this cask strength whisky. I like it better than the 18 neat.
This stuff burns... not sure it qualifies as good scotch. The alcohol overwhelms any flavors whatsoever. Need to add serious water or ice just to drink.
Superb
