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Foreign Whisky of the Month - 11/2013: Caol Ila

Virus_Of_Life

By Virus_Of_Life
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Virus_Of_Life Guru

Virus_Of_Life

Posted
Posted

And, it's a landslide! Caol Ila is the Foreign Whisky of the Month for November. Gobble gobble! Sounds like a perfect pairing to me.

Let's hear what folks have to say. I personally am a huge fan of the Cask Strength Distillery Bottling, not sold here in the states, but had some luck recently bunkering a couple cases or so. The CS, in my opinion is the perfect winter pour.

I have not tasted a bad Caol Ila yet.

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ChainWhip Guru

ChainWhip

Posted
Posted (edited)

This is all I had in the house:

10684061083_1ede824e24_z.jpg

Caol Ila 2007 (Distillery Only) - 58.4%, 700ml

Boy is this stuff good... smoked fish, brine, fruit on the nose - oily mouthfeel and the peat is in perfect balance with the sweet/salty combo... if you like Asian foods, this is the MALT for you!

Thanks again for the sample!

Now, I'm just going to nose and nurse this for the next hour while I watch Breaking Bad =]b

Edited by ChainWhip
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Yeti Disciple

Yeti

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post-9014-14489819921874_thumb.jpg

This is the only thing I have available at the moment. A little late to get into it tonight, but it will be my fresh palate pour tomorrow.

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ChainWhip Guru

ChainWhip

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[ATTACH]16810[/ATTACH]

This is the only thing I have available at the moment. A little late to get into it tonight, but it will be my fresh palate pour tomorrow.

I heard that there's a really good bottle there by IB Maltbarn... after trying mine tonight, Caol Ila has made it onto my purchase list.

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LostBottle Virtuoso

LostBottle

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Now, I'm just going to nose and nurse this for the next hour while I watch Breaking Bad =]b

Breaking bad, huh? Were you talking about booze?

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ChainWhip Guru

ChainWhip

Posted
Posted (edited)
Breaking bad, huh? Were you talking about booze?

What color are you wearing in the bathtub? =]b

And yes, this Caol Ila is still mesmerizing me.

Edited by ChainWhip
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MtnDew Connoisseur

MtnDew

Posted
Posted
And, it's a landslide! Caol Ila is the Foreign Whisky of the Month for November. Gobble gobble! Sounds like a perfect pairing to me.

Let's hear what folks have to say. I personally am a huge fan of the Cask Strength Distillery Bottling, not sold here in the states, but had some luck recently bunkering a couple cases or so. The CS, in my opinion is the perfect winter pour.

I have not tasted a bad Caol Ila yet.

Holy monkeys, bunkering "cases"!?!? Dang, I can't even imagine what your bunker looks like but I bet it sure is pretty.

I'll be out east again next week visiting sales tax free DE, a bottle of Caol Ila just might be in my future ;)

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ChainWhip Guru

ChainWhip

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Holy monkeys, bunkering "cases"!?!? Dang, I can't even imagine what your bunker looks like but I bet it sure is pretty.

I'll be out east again next week visiting sales tax free DE, a bottle of Caol Ila just might be in my future ;)

Well, the collective bunkers from our last meet up represented by the attendees would blow our n00b13 minds I'd wager.

I need to find a bottle of something cask strength too.

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MtnDew Connoisseur

MtnDew

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Well, the collective bunkers from our last meet up represented by the attendees would blow our n00b13 minds I'd wager.

I need to find a bottle of something cask strength too.

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Yeti Disciple

Yeti

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Wow, salty-sweet is spot on. Briny see air, a little bit of earth and bog, with honey and cherries. After 22 years in the barrel the peat has subsided and a very delicious and elegant whiskey emerges. A mere 2cl sample is a crime. Wish I would have purchased a whole bottle before they sold out.

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Yeti Disciple

Yeti

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Nosing the empty glass brings out milk chocolate and hot cocoa with marshmallows. So good.

I need to revisit the standard 12 soon. I always toy with adding a CS to overseas orders but have yet to pull the trigger.

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MtnDew Connoisseur

MtnDew

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Nosing the empty glass brings out milk chocolate and hot cocoa with marshmallows. So good.

I need to revisit the standard 12 soon. I always toy with adding a CS to overseas orders but have yet to pull the trigger.

If you don't mind me asking, whats the general price range your seeing all in for a bottle of CS shipped across the pond?

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Yeti Disciple

Yeti

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It varies all over the place because there are so many bottlings at every age. Lots of Caol Ila out there. I think this 1990 bottle would have been around 170 shipped give or take. I've tried to take a temporary leave from purchasing malts due to pricing, but it's tough to stick to it.

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MtnDew Connoisseur

MtnDew

Posted
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It varies all over the place because there are so many bottlings at every age. Lots of Caol Ila out there. I think this 1990 bottle would have been around 170 shipped give or take. I've tried to take a temporary leave from purchasing malts due to pricing, but it's tough to stick to it.

Thanks for the info, too rich for my (current) blood. Looks like I may end up trying to grab the standard expression or just a dram at the bar.

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Wryguy Connoisseur

Wryguy

Posted
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I've been contemplating it for a while, but there's a Duncan Taylor Rare Auld Caol Ila 27 year old 1B CS that going to be coming home with me. Caol Ila is my second favorite Islay, after Bowmore.

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AaronWF Virtuoso

AaronWF

Posted
Posted

I opened up a 1B 10yo CS CI aged in sauternes barrels last night. This is from a barrel that was selected by Sam's before Binny's bought them out, and bottled by Signatory. I drank through one in a very short time about a year ago and figured this was a perfect excuse to grab another from the bunker.

The nose on this is all Christmas. I find CI to offer a very robust presentation of peat, at least in their younger bottlings; I've never had anything of theirs over 12 years old. The sauternes brings Christmas spices, similar to what you get in an Octoberfest beer. The entry is sweet and oily but soon transitions to that sharp sharp peat on the palate, tempered by the sauternes that, in balance, brings on a super-satisfying smoke that wafts over when your neighbor is burning leaves in autumn. This is viscous stuff, showing some fish oil with the cold-winded smoke, but never losing the soft sweetness of the sauternes influence, like cuddling in a silky mink coat by a fire in the woods.

Timd turned me on to this barrel, and he swears by super-young CS CI - like 6 or 7 year olds - which I have yet to taste. I also haven't experienced what's left in a CI with more age on it, but at 10yo old, it delivers one of the most unstoppable forms of peat I've experienced. It's not medicinal like Laphroaig, nor tarry like Ardbeg, nor sulphuric machine smoke like Lagavulin. It's more well-rounded and steady, and aggressive like a runaway train.

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ChainWhip Guru

ChainWhip

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...brings on a super-satisfying smoke that wafts over when your neighbor is burning leaves in autumn...

Love that! That is so spot on.

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MtnDew Connoisseur

MtnDew

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Posted

....

like cuddling in a silky mink coat by a fire in the woods.

...

I have to admit, I've never experienced this. Though you are selling me on getting a bottle.

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Dolph Lundgren Enthusiast

Dolph Lundgren

Posted
Posted

I had a glass of the standard 12 CI this weekend and I was forgot how balanced it was. Gentle smoke, brine, seaweed and a little malty sweetness. I've only had 1 CS CI (a 6yr old), and while young it was surprisingly oily and had a great mouthfeel. There is a 22 and 30 (samaroli) on the shelves near me, and I may just splurge after my wallet recovers from the fall release damage.

I've heard people say CI is a good substitute for those unable/unwilling to mortgage their home for a bottle of PE, and I can see that...

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DrBob Enthusiast

DrBob

Posted
Posted

I purchased a 12 year, I am fairly new to scotch and haven't really acquired a taste for peat (its an acquired thing, right?) but can tell that there is a good foundation to this whiskey, and now I have something to offer friends who like peat, since I mostly have highland and speyside's in my bar.

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smokinjoe Deity

smokinjoe

Posted
Posted
In case you were wondering how to pronounce "Caol Ila"

:lol: Well, just for a few years... :crazy: Thanks, bro.

:toast:

How about congener? And, Bingstein! seems to still be in debate... :D

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smokinjoe Deity

smokinjoe

Posted
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LMAO! Can't help w/ the *stein debate, but here's congener:

http://www.pronouncehow.com/english/congener_pronunciation

(Useful for ESL students like myself)

;)

Ah. It seems that I've been wrong on that one for even longer...I'm a dolt...good grief...

Thanks again. Amazin', the things I learn on SB!! :toast:

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