Caol Ila 1998 Distillers Edition

Caol Ila 1998 Distillers Edition

Nose: sweet peat. Not a ton of smoke in this one. The peat is thick with a sort of mothball sweetness to it. Not the most complex Islay aroma but it is nice and clean. Taste: a little thin on the tongue, but it arrives with much more smoke than was advertised in the nose. There is a sweet vanilla sheen to it, though the wine casks certainly don't...

Score 85/100

Caol Ila 1998 Distillers Edition

Caol Ila is often called “the neglected Islay whisky.” It’s so neglected, it’s famous for being neglected. And I’m not sure who’s guilty of all this neglecting. It’s one of the more ubiquitous brands in liquor stores large and small, and its reputation has always been strong among connoisseurs. Therefore, I always interpret “neglected” in any Caol...

Score 90/100

Caol Ila 1998 Distillers Edition

This edition is distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2011. Nose: Chocolate covered raisins, beer, bitter citrus zest. Baked orchard fruit and cloves. Pencil shavings and sweet BBQ. There's a slight solvent edge that is both unfortunate and deceiving considering how easy-drinking this whisky is. The nose isn't as bright and fresh as the standard...

Score 86/100