Caol Ila

[Megawatt]

This malt has been mostly unavailable in Ontario but recently I picked up a bottle of Connoiseurs Choice 1997 Caol Ila. It is matured 12 years in first-fill and refill sherry casks, and bottled at 43% alc/vol.

I am really enjoying this malt. It is as smoky and peaty as one would hope but with more of an ashy dryness and less medicinal qualities than Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Peat smoke coats the outside of the mouth but fruity sweetness slides along the tongue, along with a bit of salt. It is very nicely balanced and goes well neat or with a splash of water.

Anyone else had any good Caol Ila tasting recently?

[barturtle]

The Whisky Galore Caol Ila 1992/2005 46% is quite nice.

[ebo]

Caol Ila 12 is always in the cabinet at my house. It is one of my mainstay scotches.

[macdeffe]

I can' t recall having a bad Caol Ila and I think I tried more than 100+ different ones

Here in Europe it's the most common peated malt as independant bottling and if you see a "bastard" islay malt its very likely a Caol Ila

Macdeffe

[PAspirit1]

This malt has been mostly unavailable in Ontario but recently I picked up a bottle of Connoiseurs Choice 1997 Caol Ila. It is matured 12 years in first-fill and refill sherry casks, and bottled at 43% alc/vol.

I am really enjoying this malt. It is as smoky and peaty as one would hope but with more of an ashy dryness and less medicinal qualities than Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Peat smoke coats the outside of the mouth but fruity sweetness slides along the tongue, along with a bit of salt. It is very nicely balanced and goes well neat or with a splash of water.

Anyone else had any good Caol Ila tasting recently?

[Megawatt]

if you see a "bastard" islay malt its very likely a Caol Ila

Macdeffe

Funny you say this. I have seen so much speculation about where Dun Bheagan Islay is made, yet as soon as I tasted Caol Ila I knew it is the same stuff. I don't get how anyone could suspect it is a young Ardbeg or Lagavulin, as it tastes nothing like those to me.

[The Boozer]

Always have 1 bottle open and 1 in reserve.

[unclebunk]

I absolutely love Caol Ila 12 and consider it (arguably) the most balanced of Islay malts. That doesn't mean to suggest that I'm saying it's the best of the Islay malts, but that it achieves something that the others struggle to do.

[AVB]

While I just about killed a bottle of 12 on vacation a few weeks ago it is the 18 that REALLY does it for me.

[The Boozer]

I absolutely love Caol Ila 12 and consider it (arguably) the most balanced of Islay malts. That doesn't mean to suggest that I'm saying it's the best of the Islay malts, but that it achieves something that the others struggle to do.

Right on the money although I don't think the others (assume you are refering to the "Big 3") are trying to get that balance of sweet, smoke and peat that I find in Caol Ila 12.

AVB - do love the 18 yr but no longer available, at least in my neck of the woods. Luckily, do have 3 bottles bunkered.