Cl5 Elements of Islay

Caol Ila 13 Year Old Discovery

As the name suggests, this series from Gordon & Macphail is meant to offer the different styles of malt that can be discovered from the Promsied Land. In the glass I have a Caol Ila that matured for 13 years on a bourbon cask, albeit cut to 43%. Soft nose on lime, kiwi and nectarines with a good dose of vanilla, hint of smoked bacon, a soft...

Score 85/100

Caol Ila 13 Year Old Signatory

A young Caol Ila at a cask strength of no less than 59,9%? That surely must give fireworks. It was bottled in the Signatory Cask Strength Collection, in one of those beautiful decanters that grandma uses to keep her olive oil in afterwards. Let us get to work! The nose is surprisingly soft for such an alcohol bomb. And very salty. The coastal...

Score 86/100

Caol Ila Provenance 1997 11 Year Old

Just a year younger than the standard bottling of Caol Ila 12 and much like the Provenance Laphroaig its very similar quality but in a slightly different way. * Nose: a light and delicate nose with smoked fish some light earth, coal smoke, rock salt, dark chocolate and a kind of bandage/ petrol note going on. With water a bit more muscular, more...

Score 86/100

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