Caol Ila 2001 Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength

Caol Ila Gordon & Macphail Private Collection 2001 Hermitage Finish

Bottled 2015, one of G&M’s private editions where they decided to try finishing Caol Ila in a Hermitage Cask. Having never tried hermitage wine, I thought it would be a fun adventure. Batch size of 3600 bottles. Nose: Sweet and fruity (think strawberry jam fruity) smoke. Islay brine. It’s a relatively heavy nose but yet it seems to have...

Score 89/100

Caol Ila 9 yo Shieldaig Collection (1999/2008)

We bought this malt at Milano Whisky Festival, in 2010. N: this Caol Ila is pungent, the 43% are pretty aggressive. It's a bit tart, strongly peated rather than smoky. In the backdrop, but very covered, we find lemon notes and some vanilla, but it's all somehow hidden. P: pure sea. It's all played on peat, gentle but dominant, rather salty,...

Score 77/100

Caol Ila The Single Malts of Scotland Aged 8 Years

This will be a short review (I'm watching Frozen 2 with Maggie) - but today's entry is from the independent bottler Specialty Drinks, under their The Single Malts of Scotland range: a Caol Ila that spent 8 years in a sherry butt (No. 300161). The colour is a pale straw. The nose is classic Caol Ila: Fisherman's Friend, liquorice all-sorts and...

Score 91/100

Caol Ila 2000 "Archives"

so, a young CI, what can one expect? a lot of peat reek, smoke, punch. but wait, there is much more here… Nose: Big peat. Young sweet sugars. Lemony and ashy. A bit farmy. Manure. BBQ on a sandy beach. Palate: Yummy. Avalanche of peat , chilly. Smoke on second wave of flavors. Salty. Lemony. Finish: Long smoky bacon. Lemon. Whiffs of smoke and...

Score 83/100