Caol Ila 12 Year Shelf Review
Shelf Review
Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.
Caol Ila is one of those distilleries that normal folks have never heard of and whisky nerds seem to love. This lesser-known Islay distillery is known for making both peated and unpeated whiskies, and is has one of the harder names in Scotch pronounce (pronounced “cull - eela”). But with their 12-year core expression regularly found costing upwards of $85 in the US, is it worth the respect?
Age: 12 Year
ABV: 43%
Cask: ex-bourbon casks
MSRP: $70-85
Distillery Name: Caol Ila
Review Date: 3/14/21
Nose: The peat hits hard off the bat. Big, smoky, and full of Islay’s ocean influence. Campfire ash, seaweed, and rich earth. Freshly tilled soil with a puff of flavored tobacco. As it sits, more sweetness comes to the forefront with notes of lemon, fruit, and fluffy marshmallow.
Palate: Light on the front but quickly develops more depth and complexity. A sweet minerality, with heaps of salt, mixed with a savory umami flavor that reminds me of salty charcuterie meats. Herbal and vegetal, with the peat smoke building as it transitions into the finish. The mouthfeel was lighter than I expected, and blends well with the relatively subtle flavor profile.
Finish: Short finish that features more of the campfire ash but is joined by smoked salmon and roasted sweet corn. Black tea and freshly cracked pepper round out a finish that tapers off too early.
