Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

  • Country: Scotland
  • Region: Islay
  • Category: Single Malt Whisky
  • Owners: Diageo
  • Bottler: Distillery
  • Brand: Caol Ila
  • Age Statement: 12
  • Chill Filtered: Yes
  • Alcohol % ABV: 43
  • Cask Strength: No
  • Average Price (2023) £: 46.95
  • Colour Description: Pale Straw
  • Colour Status: Coloured
  • Peated / Smoke: Lightly Peated / Smoked
  • Cask Maturation / Finish: Ex-Bourbon
  • Single Cask: No
  • Mash Bill: Malted Barley
  • Barley: 100
  • Whisky Experience Level: Intermediate
  • Value Score : 85 out of 100
  • Bottle Stopper: Natural Cork
  • Packaging: Box
  • Core Bottle or Special Release: Core Bottle
  • Product URL: https://www.malts.com/en-gb/products/single-malt-whisky/caol-ila-12-year-old-single-malt-scotch-whisky-70cl
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Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

The ultimate Islay malt, Caol Ila is considered by experts to be the perfect entry point into the world of peaty malt whiskies and a reference for connoisseurs of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky the world over. Fresh, sweetly fruity and smooth-bodied, Caol Ila 12 year old is the colour of pale straw, with a delicate balance of tastes.

Serving Suggestion: To enjoy, simply serve the 12-Year-Old Caol Ila neat in a rocks glass, adding ice or a splash of water to taste.

APPEARANCE

Pale straw.

BODY

Smooth, pleasant mouth-feel: firm with a light to medium body.

NOSE

Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and dentist's mouthwash. A fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke. A little water raises almond oil and old fashioned oilskins; still a fresh fruitiness, a trace of olive oil, and after a while potpourri or scented hand-soap.

PALATE

Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish. Smooth, pleasant mouth-feel; with water light acidity, some salt and still the sweeter notes. A complex balance of primary tastes.

FINISH

Sweet smokiness in the lingering, slightly sour finish.

One comment

  • Review number 40. Caol Ila whilst it is a Diageo owned brand, very much lives in the shadow of it's larger neighbour of Lagavulin.

    It was in 1846 that Hector Henderson decided to build a small distillery in a tight bay next to Port Askaig to the South, on Islay's east coast. He named his venture Caol Ila, Gaelic for the Sound of Islay, the stretch of water which it overlooked.

    They make a heavily peated style of Islay Whisky, but how does it compare to its arguably more famous diageo sibling.

    It is bottled at 43% ABV, is chill filtered and has added colour, which is pretty standard for Diageo releases. It has an average retail price online of £43.95 for the standard 700ml bottle which contributes to it having an 'Value Score' of 86.34/100.

    It is heavily peated as mentioned, believed to be at 35 ppm (Parts per million), compared to Laphroaig 10 at over 40ppm and the recently reviewed Glen Scotia 2020 Malts Festival Tawny Port release which is just under 40ppm.

    On the nose there is noticable peat, but not at heavy as Laphroaig. It is also fruity with salt. Undoubtly an Islay Character, however, not quite as TCP phenolic as some Islay, more maybe, a damp campfire embers.

    On the palate it starts perfumed and sweet, the peat smoke builds and lingers for long finish. There is an oily texture with a floral citrus of pot pourri. It is a wonderful dram, while its peat doesn't detract from the flavour and isn't overwhelming, it adds to the character.

    With added water there is vanilla and a bitter dry tropical fruit note, not a pinapple or mango, we couldn't quite identify. There is malt and bitterness towards the finish.

    For an overall score we give it 88/100. The peat level isn't too intense, on initial tasting we would say its an intermediate level peated whisky. We would definitely be buying a bottle for our collection.

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