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	Caol-Ila
			Sample
O.B.	8 years "Unpeated Style"	19
	12 years	17 5/6
	18 years	18 3/4
	8 years, unpeated (2007)
	Cask Strength	18
	10 years "Unpeated Style", 2009
	Rare malts, 21 years	18
	25 years	18 1/2
Alc-hem-ist	Caol Ila 1996		18
Berry Bros and Rudd	Berry's own selection, 1979	20
Bladnoch forum bottlings	Aged 29 years
	Aged 24 years	19
Bresser&Timmer / The Nectar	Daily Dram: Local AI, 23 years
Cadenhead	12 years Cadenhead	18
Dewar Rattray	Cask collection, 21 years	18 1/2
Douglas Laing	Old Malt Cask, 25 years
	Commemorative bottling, 30 years. For Douglas Laing friends.
Dun Eideann	Dun Eideann, Chateau La Nerthe		16
	Dun Eideann, 1995 Oloroso		15
Gordon & MacPhail	Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)	17 3/5
Ian McLeod	Chieftain's Choice 11years - rum finish	17 1/2
	Chieftain's Choice 12 years - claret	15
Jean Boyer	Caol Ila 9 years
	Best Casks of Scotland 1995	19
	Best Casks of Scotland 2000		18
	Best Casks of Scotland 1979		18
The Vintage Malt Whisky company	Coopers Choice 1991	17 1/2
Signatory	Un-chillfiltered collection 1989	18
	Un-chillfiltered collection 1991 Port	17 1/3
	Flagon collection (Signatory) 1991	17 1/5
	Vintage 1981 (Signatory)	18 1/5
Taste Still	Taste Still 1979		19
John McDougall	Golden Cask 1996		17
The Whisky Exchange	Port Askaig, Cask Strength
	Single Malts of Scotland, 16 years	19
	Elements of Islay, Cl 1	19
	Port Askaig, 17 years
	Port Askaig, 25 years
	Single Malts of Scotland, 9 years		18
	Single Malts of Scotland, 15 years		18
Whisky Import Nederland	First Cask 1982-2007	18

 

Caol Ila 12 years
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 The rich smoky peat flavours from this Islay malt announces a great whisky. wonderfully sweet and rich, this bottle is a perfect illustration of the know-how of the distillery. A great moment. I recommend this bottle to anybody.
A real Caol Ila like one loves it, a wonderful balance. Everything is present without excess. Iodine, salt, seaweed, high seas, everything contained in a whisky which gave me a strange feeling of calm and fullness. A very great malt. The finish is remarkably long, and the pleasure stays long in the mouth.

The second tasting just confirmed the first one. A very great Islay malt, at least for those who appreciate smoke and peat.

Peat, but refined and powerful at the same time, with hints of smoke and iodine and touches of bee wax characterize the nose of this very nice whisky. In the palate, the delicate side of this whisky, peated and salted, but very sweet and complex contrasts with the smoke, however very well balanced as well. A nice finish, delicate just as the whole. Some milk chocolate, perhaps...

The nose is clearly marked by peat and the associated humid undergrowth smells. A touch of smoke, but rather discrete. The mouth is pleasantly oily, with this excellent peaty hints and a touch of acidity which gives it a kind of freshness. Very nice impression of quiet strength, even if this strength is quite monotone. The finish is rather long and quite smooth, with still the presence of this refined peat. An excellent introduction to peated Islay malts.

The first nose is rather fruity, mix of plum and citrus fruit with nice but first discrete peaty hints, which gradually become more dominating, to finally overwhelm the fruits.
The palate is quite pleasant too, with slight chocolate dominating hints, a bit of nutty bitterness and amazing enough, no fruits at all...
The finish is rather short and the memory of peat is clearly present.
This bottle has been opened for many months now, this could explain this a bit confusing tasting notes.

Comment by J.L. Zamora

Nose: smoked some how burnt grass or wood (in my lenguage: xerdu), salty,polish antisepthic?. Mouth: spycy, oily, dry smoke whith good intensity. Finish: long, smoked fish and salty This bottle probably remeber a port ellen?

Comment by Henrik Johansson

Appearance: Chardonnay white wine.
Nose: Delishiously sweet nose with lots of rubber, smoky and malty scents. Quite complex and interesting. Minty and peaty aromas emerge from the addition of water. There's also a wiff of old books, surgical spirit and a slightly bitter tingle that lingers.
Body: Medium and quite firm.
Palate: Sweet and malty to taste, not so much of the smoke carries over. There's a long, feinty tingle that seems to last forever. Development: After four months, less than a third of the bottle remains so I thought I'd do an evaluation. The nose is much dryer than I remembered it, the predominant expression is of burnt lumber that has soaked in water. There's some cocao in the background together with some burnt rubber and roast.! The palate s still sweet and balanced with a truly majestic finish that is quite smoky and a little sherried. Elegant palate. I rated the 4 month old bottle slightly higher than the newly opened one.
90/100

 

Caol Ila 18 years
Age	18 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 Happiness begins from the very moment the glass reaches the nose. Lots of complex fragrances, combining peat and smoke to more acid hints announce a very great malt. This is clearly a great quality Caol Ila. The happiness continues in the mouth where an explosion of complex tastes make it a real feast. A long finish crowns the ensemble. A very good bottle, don't miss it.

The nose is very subtle, mixing light peat hints to sea smells, but remaining rather fruity. This whisky does not have the powerful character of some others from the island, but is full of nuances and suability. In the palate, the complexity of this whisky is confirmed, with a taste going from sweet citrus fruits to malt, through a range of discrete spices. A very pleasant and long finish, where all the detected aromas are reviewed again.

A marvelous nose, smoky but with such a delicacy and however so powerful. A very nice peat with something more, specially pleasantly frangranced, with a slightly acid touch of citrus fruits and some spicy hints. Short, a very nice nose. In the palate, a great impression of hapiness, mixing smoke with citrus fruits, malt spices. A lingering and very interesting finish, where remains of what is described above come back and in addiction some very fine and discrete woody impression, which makes the whole even more attractive.

A very pleasant nose marked by oily and generous peat. Some rather smooth citrus fruit hints on the background. Smells of marmalade or plum jam.
In the palate, a nice peat too, rich and pleasantly balanced mixes with slightly fruity and nicely bitter notes. Some spices in addition.
Nice finish, lingering and marked by both peat and touches of smoke.

 

Caol Ila Aged 25 years
Age	25 years
Alcohol percentage	59,4%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

The nose is very subtle, complex and fruity (pear or peach) with discrete peated hints on the background. In the palate, a very great mildness, despite its high degree of alcohol, a mix of ripe fruits, citrus on peated background, with very nice smoky touches. The impression of complex and refined smoothness is so great, that the nearly 60% of that marvelous bottle are immediately forgotten. A very nice finish, lingering, fruity and marine at the time, passing successively through slightly acid citrus notes and dry hints of peat. Moving alternatively to salted and sugared notes.

The nose is basically on roasted cereal and develops slowly on nutty notes and on quite an interesting woody impression. A slight tingling announces probably some high degree of alcohol. Some farmy hints, wet hay and a touch of animal smell. A relative freshness, somewhere between cut grass and citrus fruit tries to emerge behind this first impressions. A subtle peat combined with a sea sensation harmonises the whole.
The mouth is rather complex, mixing hints of leather with notes of too ripe oranges (quite rotten ones). A very nice whisky anyway, even if the alcohol impression is constantly present without being boring.
The warm finish is marked by hints of chocolate and leather before developing on nice malty and pleasant warm notes.

Caol Ila Cask Strength
Age	no age statement
Alcohol percentage	55%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

The nose, very complex, is marked by peat on a floral background and some remote smoke hints. The palate is rather complex too, and the peat, the smoke and the salt are mixed with some ripe fruit notes. The long and pleasant finish ends on malt and smoke, after some strong nut hints.

The nose, wel marked by peat and floral smels, is deliciously complew and annouces a great whisky. In the mouth, the taste goes from earthy peat hints ot nut notes, and then on nice fruity touches, nicely fresh and finally to a kind of woody bitterness. Smoky hinst are perceptible as well. The finish is lingering and warm, somewhere between smoke and woody bitterness.

 

Caol Ila 8 years old "Unpeated Style"
Age	8 years
Alcohol percentage	59,8%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

A very nice nose, both floral and spicy. A touch of smoke and light woody notes mixed with very discrete violet or lavender hints. A kind of "must drink immediately" feeling. THe mouth is first rather dry, complex with first some fruity hints, quickly developingon woody notes, through a touch of violet flavour. The mouth becomes more and more oily as the time goes. A very nice finish, deliciously long and warm. Rather complex too as the different fruity notes of the mouth are reviewed before ending on a slightly woody note.

A clearly floral nose with a fruity character, with its aromas of pear in alcohol, nice peppery notes and a light veil of smoke, An expressive nose anyway.
The mouth is immediately very pleasant, with a mix of bitter and acid notes, even if the presence of alcohol is over obvious. The bitterness is enhanced by nice fruity notes and some chocolate hints. Nice complexity expressed by the clear contrast between bitterness and acidity.
A very long and warm finish, marked by clear malty notes, very close to chocolate.
An excellent bottle.

Caol Ila 10 years "Unpeated Style" (2009)
Age	10 years
Alcohol percentage	65,8%
Bottler	Officiel
Price/litre

Caol Ila Rare Malts 1977-1999
Age	21 years
Alcohol percentage	61.3%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

An amazingly fresh nose, slightly medicinal (ether) with nice notes of citrus fruit and a veil of smoke and on the background relatively discrete peat hints. In the palate, a beautiful fresh bitterness or a beautiful bitter freshness.
The mouth is first dry and relatively complex, marked by citrus fruits before developing on nice notes both woody and peaty.
The finish is very long and warm. Peat remains present, even if merged with malty notes.

 

Caol Ila 11 years Rum finish Chieftain's Choice
Age	11 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Cask	Rum
Bottler	Ian McLeod
Price/litre

 

 Rum finish is still unusual in the whisky world. Apart from this Caol Ila version by the independent bottler Ian McLeod, there are some other bottlings like a cask strength from Springbank. This bottle is a real pleasure. All the Islay typical peaty sweetness is present in this very good whisky. The long finish leaves an happiness impression in the mouth. The bottle is unfortunately very hard to find nowadays.

The very good impression this malt let me last time is completely confirmed. The nose recognizes a Caol Ila immediately, due to its peaty sweetness which is so characteristic. The rum finishing adds a kind of smoothness to this complex "maritime" malt. The finish could have been longer, but this does not affect the quality of this exceptional malt.

Iodine, peat and smoke are dominating fragrances leaving however some room to spicy notes. In the palate, first a great sweetness, but spices, honey, smoke and peat appear soon for our greatest pleasure. The finish is rather long, smoky and spicy. Remote sweet hints due to the rum are revealed after a while. A great success.

A quite difficult to define nose with discrete hints of smoke and peat, but something else, which seems to be superimposed to the classical Calo Ila notes. A kind of farm smell, wet hay but still discrete. The same kind of sensations in the palate, a kind of mix of traditional Caol Ila with something else. Malty hints in retro-olfaction (beer?) with a kind of veil probably created by the finition. Between salty-smoky and sweet-smoky ... A rather long and warm finish but quite impersonal, just like the nose and mouth were.

 

 

Caol Ila 12 years claret finish Chieftain's Choice
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	Non chill filtered
Cask	Claret
Bottler	Ian McLeod
Price/litre

 

 Caol Ila is one of the most outstanding distilleries of Scotland, used to produce excellent whiskies.
Chieftain's Choice (Ian McLeod) is one of the best collections from independent bottlers.
Claret is one of the best wines.
One could reasonably think the combination of these 3 elements would produce an excellent whisky.
I probably didn't taste it in the best conditions, because this bottle didn't evoke any of the marvelous memories I keep from other Caol Ila versions. It just deserves a 15/20. Probably a second tasting could change my mind...

The second tasting did not take my perplexity away neither... The nose detect undoubtedly an Islay whisky, with its hints of peat, well mixed with some other sweeter fragrances. In the palate, some remote violet hints quickly hidden by a taste somewhere between something very pleasant and something frankly sickly. The rather long finish prolongs the impression left by the palate. A strange combination, between this Caol Ila and red wine...

A third tasting just confirmed the strange impression this whisky leaves. The nose is rather indistinct, however dominated by some hints of smoky peat, but hidden by other smells, more difficult to identify. In the mouth, first an acid impression followed by a monochord taste before a quite indefinable finish... Strange combination, this Islay with claret....

 

 

Caol Ila 1989 Signatory's Un-Chill filtered Collection
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	Non chill filtered Single Cask
Bottler	Signatory
Price/litre

 

 Caol Ila stays obviously one of the best distilleries from Islay, and even from Scotland. This bottle is a marvelous one also. This is probably due to the combination of know-how of the distiller and the excellent bottler, Signatory. Despite the very pale colour (white wine) which could disappoint some people, this whisky is really remarkable by the balance of the fragrances, and the immoderate pleasure it gives in the mouth. This pleasure stays for long minutes in the mouth because of a long and pleasant finish. One more illustration of the quality achieved by non chill filtering.

The nose is marked by peat and iodine, with some violet hints on the background; A rather complex nose, announcing great things. The taste does not really respond to the expectations rose by the nose and is relatively plain, allying malt with some slightly acid touches. The finish is long and evokes peat and salt.

A clearly fruity nose, with a mix of liquorice and iodine on a background of quite discrete peat. Nice fragrance anyway, slightly acid and salty. In the mouth, a kind of acidity mixes with nice malty and menthol hints. A nice lingering finish, rather salted and very pleasant. The difference with the previous notes is amazing.

 

Comment by Joel Marks

The lighter, almost clear color of this Caol Ila is a surprise. However, the flavors and nuances associated with this Islay whisky is very evident. A good splash of spring water makes the flavors jump right out of the glass.

 

Caol Ila 1991 Portwood Finish Signatory's Un-Chill filtered Collection
Age	11 years
Cask	Port
Alcohol percentage	46%
Particularity	non chill filtered
Bottler	Signatory
Price/litre

 

 Another excellent combination between the know how of a good distillery and an imagination full bottler. The Un-chill filtered collection from Signatory has produced another unforgettable version. The combining of peat and smoke, so typical for Islay whisky with port finish (giving some sweetness), bottled at 46% without chill filtration gives an exceptional result. I recommend this bottle.

At the second tasting, the peaty character combined with this something special made me recognize a Caol Ila immediately. The nose is slightly medicinal, with some ripe fruits (peer?) hints. In the palate, a veil of peat and smoke covers some slightly acid and very pleasant hints, marked by spices and some background pepper. A rather interesting finish, where spicy hints remain. However, the whole has a lack at density, and therefore, the quotation is lower than the first time.

The nose is quite rich, mixing discrete peat to fruity hints inherited from the port cask, and is very pleasant, promising lots of pleasure. In the palate, the nice balance between the smoothness of the fruit and the bitterness of peat makes room to a higher complexity, where woody touches mix with sweeter fruity and spicy hints. A nice finish, even if it could have been longer, where woody memories and pleasant spices remain present.

 

 

Caol Ila 1991 The Flagon Collection Signatory Vintage
Age	11 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Bottler	Signatory
Price/litre

 

This great whisky in an old fashion packaging is again a great success due to the combination of an excellent distillery and an excellent bottler. The extraordinary balance between smoke, peat and iodine on one hand and the great sweetness on the other hand makes this bottle an absolute must in each whisky collection. The packaging adds something to its charm. It's just a pity it's impossible to see the colour (extremely pale) and to determine how much is left in the flask.

The conclusions of the second tasting were exactly the same as the first one. A very long and pleasant finish which confers these malt a unforgettable smoke-sugar character.

The impression at the third tasting contrasts with the two first ones. Is this a consequence of the evolution of my own taste or of the taste of this whisky, or is it due to circumstances, I do not know, but there was a great contrast between the nose (very pleasant, smoky and with just enough peat) and the taste which is close to insipidness, a bit like the "white wine" colour. The finish was rather short. This bottle deserves certainly a new try, because the contrast between the last tasting and the two first ones seems too great.

A fourth tasting tends to confirm the third one. A rather interesting nose, developing smoky and peaty smells, with some discrete fruity notes. In the palate, a lack at body contrasts with some fresh notes on a background of malt and bitter chocolate. Anyway, a nice contrast but somewhere unsatisfying. The finish is relatively short.

A pretty smokey nose with nice hints of dry peat on the background. Some medicinal touches are present too. In the palate, a very nice complexity, fruity notes (peach, melon), some liquorice and a nice peaty warmth overall. A nice finish, lingering and warm, keeping the memory of peat smoke for a while, with however in addition some slightly acid touches which give the whole a nice freshness.

 

 

Caol Ila 21 years Signatory Vintage 1981
Age	21 years
Alcohol percentage	58,3%
Bottler	Signatory
Particularity	Cask Strength
Price/litre

 

The first contact is rather pleasant, but the alcohol is predominant. After having added some water, the fragrances develop, and the exceptional complexity is revealed. A great taste richness in the exceptional malt. The finish is shorter than I had hoped. But its price makes that this bottle is not a must in a good whisky collection. But the happy few who own it must have no regret...

At the second tasting, the contrast between the nose and the palate was really obvious.... A rather aggressive nose, probably due to the alcohol degree. A great smoothness in the palate, despite the high degree of alcohol. Peated and slightly smoky, the whisky presents also some discrete liquorice hints. The whole in a wonderfully complex context. A pleasant and rather long finish.

A very nice nose with a kind of tyre smell and some leather hints hiding more discrete fruit flavours. In the mouth, after the first alcohol impression, a very nice complexity where fruits (dried appels) take an important role and some smokey and peaty touches. Some hints of liquorice and spices too. A nice finish, contrasting with mouth and nose and the memory of nice malted barley remains for a while.

The nose is rather impressive, and has lost all aggressivity it had during the first tastings. Very pleasant, at the time smokey and slightly acid, peated and fruity. In the mouth, the first impression is quite dry, peaty, but the taste developes on coffee notes and finally on milk chocolate hints. The finish is pleasant and the memory of malted barley and peat remains in the palate for a while.

The nose reveals both malted barley and clear yeast smells trying to hide some citrus hints. In fact, the first nose is not really pleasant... before opening on some rather heady floral notes. Peat notes complete the overview. In the palate, a mix of honey and bitter oranges with an evolution on more pleasant notes of smooth malt and a touch of slightly bitter nuts. The finish is long and in reality nice than the nose and mouth were. Hazelnut and malt. Light peaty hints. In the light of the differences with previous notations, it seems this bottle has suffered from the time and lost part of its qualities. The bottle has been opened for a few years.

 

 

Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 12 years
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Gordon & MacPhail
Cask	Porto
Price/litre

 

 The nose reveals subtle hints of peat and smoke. The very pleasant and complex, but sweet taste confirms the peat and smoke touches of the nose, with some sweet fruit hints. A long and pleasant finish hesitating between sweet spices and malt, which is dominating after a few minutes.

A second tasting just confirms the first one. A great sweetness, a great malt.

The nose is very rich, and smells of peat and smoke mix with other very pleasant and fruity fragrances, between peach and orange, but without any acidity with however a slightly spicy touch. In the palate, a pleasant sweetness where peat and smoke are mixed with malt and some discrete fruity hints. The finish is sweet and slightly spicy.

A clear nose marked by nice fresh and fruity notes (unripe plum jam), touches of yeast and of peat, hidden behind a light veil of smoke.
In the palate an unusual mix of bitterness and acidity with fruity notes (again this jam of unripe acid plum), peat (but very discrete), the whole being dominated by the acid character noticed earlier.
Quite a short finish with still the same impressions, both pleasant and strange of acid fruit and some remote peaty hints.

 

Caol Ila Cadenhead 1993-2005 12 years
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Bottler	Cadenhead's
Cask	Bourbon
Price/litre

A nose clearly marked by smoke and peat, with indisputable marine influences. A very nice and complex nose. The palate is relatively complex too, going form sweet notes to clearly salted touches, with always some woody or nutty hints on the background. Sometimes, a fleeting impression of acid drop behind a veil of smoke. The finish is very pleasant, of average length, and continues on bitter woody notes.

Even if this happens not often, I have nothing to add to my previous comment about this nice bottle. I could however mention some citrus hints in the finish, I didn't describe the first time.

A smell of barbecue ashes immediately gives the pitch. This is a nice peaty whisky. Beyond the peat, nice fresh fruity notes (smoked kiwi..?)
In the palate, the same peat is very present and the whole is relatively complex: fruit, pepper and peat.
The lingering finish is marked by this interesting mix of peat and peppery fruits.

Caol Ila Coopers Choice 1991 12 years
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Bottler	The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Price/litre

A nose clearly marked by the smoke and the peat and giving the impression to be near the seaside, with salt and seaweed... so typical from a Caol Ila. In the palate, a very nice impression, where hints of oily peat are mixed with a kind of citrus acidity, which gives this whisky an unexpected freshness. The alcohol impression is rather strong, much more than expected for a 46% whisky. Its just a pitty the finish is so short and discrete. Anyway, an excellent bottle.

The first nose consists of quite a clear peat hiding pleasant fruity notes. the nose is rather complex, with medicinal hints and a mix of smoke and sea spray.
The mouth is rather fresh despite the peaty heaviness announced by the nose. However, this peat is very present, together with some alcohol tingling after a while. Classical mouth for a peated malt.
The warm finish is of medium length. Also essentially marked by peat.

Caol Ila Best Casks of Scotland 1995 - 2006
Age	10 years
Alcohol percentage	58,2%
Bottler	Jean Boyer
Price/litre

A very well balanced nose, wheree peat and a great fruity freshness are the dominant hints. Some tinglings due to the percentage of alcohol are present without hindering. Oily peat. Very nice nose. In the palate, this oily character of the peat is also dominant, giving the whisky a remarkable balance, without any aggressivity to this special Caol Ila. The mouth is not really complex, but so balanced... developing on tones between peat and moke or chocolate. A lingering warm finish where all the chocolate memories from the mouth remain. An excellent Caol Ila.

Caol Ila Cask Collection Bottled for "The Nectar" (Belgium) Cask 6266
Age	21 ans
Alcohol percentage	58,5%
Bottler	Dewar Rattray
Price/litre

The nose is very fresh, marked by the vanilla, cut grass and citrus fruits. A nice impression of discrete and refined peat behind the first sensations. A light veil of smoke as well.
In the palate, a nice acid bitterness, or a bitter acidity, complex. A very pleasant mix of peat and citrus, the whole making it a nicely balanced whisky.
The finish is long and warm, on the same taste palettes as the mouth. After a while, it becomes dryer, with clear spicy notes. Exceptional finish.

A discrete peat beside a nice freshness characterises this very pleasant and nuanced nose. Citrus fruit and grass, harmoniously mixed with a touch of smoke and some farmy notes.
The same nice balance is present in the palate too, and first some acid motes appear, quickly followed by peat and some woody hints.
The finish is fresh and lingering. Really contrasted, just like the nose and mouth were. Nice contrasts/
Another great bottle.

Caol Ila First Cask 1982-2007 Cask# 741
Age	25 years
Alcohol percentage	60.8%
Bottler	Whisky Import Nederland
Cask	Bourbon Hogshead
Price/litre

The nose is very clear and direct. Peat and smoke. A nice kind of oily peat which does not really filter out the nice fruity smells champing at the  bit behind an impressive veil of smoke. Even a kind of freshness is guessed even if it is rather difficult to qualify behind all this peat smoke. The palate is really creamy, with no hinder at all from the high percentage of alcohol. A trip between peat and smoke through nice fruity, and others close to chocolate notes. Discrete citrus fruit hints are detected too. The finish is lingering and warm. Peat is still dominating, merged with a nice smoke and some hints of too ripe fruits. Wonderful finish, just lingering and full of nuances.

Caol Ila The Single Malts of Scotland 16 ans cask #851
Age	16 years
Alcohol percentage	57.9%
Bottler	The whisky exchange
Cask	Hoghshead
Price/litre

The nose is quite complex and no so easy to describe at first nosing. Smoke, freshness and a mix of peat with citrus fruit and a kind of medicinal impression associated to a very nice presence. This announces lots of pleasure anyway.
The mouth is first rather dry and develops quickly on a nice oily and very pleasant peat. Very nice palate, complex and contrasted. No doubt, this is a high quality whisky.
The finish is warm and specially lingering. A nice fine peat is clearly dominating.

Caol Ila 1975 Old Malt Cask Cask #1358
Age	25 years
Alcohol percentage	50%
Bottler	Douglas Laing
Price/litre

Caol Ila 1979 Old Malt Cask Commemoration bottling For Douglas Laing Friends
Age	30 years
Alcohol	50%
Bottler	Douglas Laing
Price/litre

Caol Ila Daily Dram Local AI
Age	23 ans
Taux d'alcool	53.7%
Embouteilleur	Bresser&Timmer/ The Nectar
Prix/litre

Caol Ila Berry's own selection 1979
Age	30 years
Alcohol percentage	53.1%
Bottler	Berry Bros & Rudd
Price/litre

An amazing and incredible subtle nose, very smooth and rich. Peat is present, accompanied by beautiful chocolate notes, hints of citrus fruit and smells of ripe fruit mixed with new leather behind a light veil of smoke. A very complex nose announcing a superb whisky.
The mouth just confirms the nose. Very complex too and even subtle than the mouth was. Leather notes seem to dominate a light acidity made of discrete lemon hints. What a great whisky!
The finish is lingering and develops from memories of milk chocolate to leather touches, the whole being perfectly balanced and nuanced.
This whisky is not far from perfection. From far the best Caol Ila I ever tasted.

Caol Ila aged 24 years, Bladnoch bottling
Age	24 years
Alcohol percentage	54,3%
Bottler	Bladnoch
Price/litre

The nose is gently marked by discrete and refined peat masking hints of cut grass and some citrus fruit on the background. Smoke as well, the whole in a perfect and promising balance.
The mouth is amazingly fresh and citrus fruits which were on the background at the nosing take advantage on the peat which remains refine and discrete. This tasting being not a blind one, I can say that this bottle is quite a nice surprise. Far from the warm and sometimes heavy peated character of some other expressions from this distillery.
Finish is at top level as well. Subtle mix of peat and citrus fruits, freshness and happiness. Very long happiness...

Caol Ila aged 29 years, Bladnoch bottling Cask 4937
Age	29 years
Alcohol percentage	55,5%
Bottler	Bladnoch
Price/litre

Caol Ila Elements of Islay CI 1
Alcohol percentage	62,9%
Price/litre
Bottler	The Whisky Exchange

Nice oily peat and a veil of smoke characterise the nose, before developing on chocolate and coffee notes.
In the palate, the same aromas embellished with discrete slightly acid and lightly fruity notes. A remarkable smoothness despite the high level of alcohol.
The finish is lingering and quite warm, and the memory of the coffee notes of the mouth is dominant. Fresh and acid notes seem to have disappeared.

Caol Ila Port Askaig 25 years
Age	25 years
Alcohol percentage	45,8%
Bottler	The whisky exchange
Price/litre

Caol Ila Port Askaig 17 years
Age	17 years
Alcohol percentage	45,8%
Bottler	The whisky exchange
Price/litre

Caol Ila Port Askaig Cask strength
Age	No age statement
Taux d'alcool	57,1%
Embouteilleur	The whisky exchange
Prix/litre

Caol Ila Taste Still 1979
Age	26 years
Alcohol percentage	57.4%
Bottler	Taste Still
Price/litre

The first nose is very medicinal, a bit unusual for a Caol Ila. But very soon fruity smells develope giving it a nice freshness on a background of peaty smoke. The nose is a bit tingling. In the palate, the first thing one denote si a delicate peaty smoke, followed by woody hints and it further developes on chocolate notes. A very nicely complex mouth. The lingering finish is somewhere beteen the malt and the chocolate, with a slight bitterness, nutty hints. A very high level bottle.

Caol Ila Best Casks of Scotland 2000
Age	6 years
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Jean Boyer

The nose is quite a traditional Caol Ila nose, smoke and dry peat, some iodine and discrete fruity hints. In the palate, the whisky seems first to be too weak, but it is remarkably complex, with nice contrasts between slightly acid notes and some more baically peated ones. After a while, no regrets anymore, because it is so rich in surprises and contrasts. The finish simply prolongs the mouth, long and warm, with a slight acid domination, while the mouth was more marked by the peat. This is a very nice Caol Ila bottling.

The nose is clearly spicy (pepper) and slightly medicinal (touch of ether). Peat and smoke, but none of them really dominating. A kind of freshness and hints of hay. The whole marrying harmoniously. In the palate, peat and smoke try unsuccessfully to hide the nice slightly fruity hints while a clear presence of alcohol is obvious without being hindering. The finish is long and extremely pleasant, marked by the memory of the smoke and clear bitter hints. Wood and gentian. Impressive finish.

Caol Ila Best casks of Scotland 1979
Age	26 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Bottler	Jean Boyer

The nose reveals both peaty and spicy (pepper) notes. Both dominants are perfectly balanced and make a very coherent whole. Some stealthy fruit hints appear as well. The mouth is first peaty, dry peat developing on more smoothness. A nice complexity with tastes developing from peat to fruit (apple, banana?) through nice and refined woody notes. Very nice balance between bitterness and freshness. A lingering long finish, very pleasant.

Caol Ila Single Malts of Scotland
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	58.8%
Bottler	Single Malts of Scotland

A typical Caol Ila nose. Plenty of nice oily peat hiding a veil of smoke. The sea is nearby, sea spray and seaweed smells. Salt, iodine, peat and smoke. Enough to make the Islay amateur happy. Nice classical nose. No default at all in the palate. Nice fruity notes keep the peat company. Besides the fruits (apple, citrus, exotic fruits) interesting bitter hints, a light woody touch contributes to the happiness of drinking this whisky.
A flawless mouth but a surpriseless mouth too. Nice classical mouth. The finish prolongs exactly the feelings of the mouth and the nose, with however very nice development on the peat which becomes first spicy and then expresses clear citrus notes,
A finish full of surprises, much more interesting than the mouth or nose were. Lingering and warm. Very nice finish, much less classical than mouth and nose. Very nice bottle.

Caol Ila Single Malts of Scotland
Age	9 years
Alcohol percentage	60,7%
Bottler	Single Malts of Scotland

A very nice nose where coffee aromas develop behind peat smells and wet hay notes. Toasted bread and smoke, rubber and farmy hints. Quite impressive.
The palate is rather complex and the same components which were so characteristic at the nosing are present here too, especially this intense impression of smoke mixed to coffee hints.
The finish is exceptionally long and warm, prolonging perfectly the mouth, even amplifying some aspects of the palate.

Caol Ila 8 years Unpeated (2007)
Age	8 years
Alcohol percentage	64.9%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

Caol Ila 1995 Chateau La Nerthe
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	42%
Bottler	Dun Eideann

The first nose is typically a Caol Ila nose, Smoke, peat and stable with wet hay. The wet impression improves with the time. Very pleasant nose, even if it is a bit monotonous. Anyway, it is far from being discrete.
In the palate, the enthusiasm is half-hearted. as the whisky gives the impression of a mix of coffee and red wine.. I did not try this before, but I imagine that it would have a taste close to this Caol Ila. Looks like a mess... A good whisky mixed with a good wine does not necessarily produce a good whisky finish...
The finish is short and a bit strange. Seems to be made of slightly acid red wine hints mixed with some alcohol.
The nose was great, but mouth and nose are clearly deceiving.

Caol Ila 1995 Oloroso
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	42%
Bottler	Dun Eideann

A peaty nose and hints of smoke, the whole being rather discrete. We are far from the usual presence of a Caol Ila. The mouth is clearly deceiving, with that impression of peat dipped in a kind of acid solution, made from citrus fruit and vinegar. The peat impression survives as best it can, but the general feeling in the mouth is some tasteless acidity. The finish is quite inexistant, on the same acid tones as the mouth was.

Caol Ila Golden Cask 1996 Fût 6481
Age	10 ans
Bottler	John McDougall
Alcohol percentage	58.5%
Price

A very nice nose, very typical of the distillery: plenty of peat and smoke . The sea is not far away neither. Right now, a great classic.
In the palate, the traditional warmth of a Caol Ila with its smoky and peaty notes and some fresh citrus notes above. Not an exceptional complexity, but quite a good whisky anyway.
The finish is very long, with still this mix of smoke, peat and sea spray in the mind. Unfortunately, alcohol remains dominant during the whole tasting. This whisky deserves some drops of water, and probably another tasting.

Caol Ila Alc-hem-ist 1996
Age	10 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Bottler	Alchemist
Price/litre

The nose is clearly marked by a smell of oily peat and some sea hints.
In the palate, a nice smoke and a beautiful variation on one unique theme: peat., even though rather discrete. Despite a kind of monotony, this mouth remains rather complex. Pleasant and smooth.
The finish is rather long and remains on the same register as nose and mouth, which gives it quite a smooth character.

Caol Ila Jean Boyer Le puits à whisky
Age	9 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Bottler	Jean Boyer
Price/litre

Caol Ila Cadenhead 1995-2008 Matured in an oak cask
Age	13 years
Alcohol percentage	46%
Bottler	Cadenhead

Comment by Johannes Sauer

Colour: Riesling
Nose: The first impression is very surprising fruity one: Pome, quince, pears, obstler. Backed by a very nifty peat smoke, a great and very complex Caol Ila announces itself. Later there is dark cocoa powder and soft hints of honey. Soft burning embers. Not a bit chemical but peaty for sure. This nose is making it a great pleasure to wait and same time look forward the first sip.
Taste: Yessss! This is the perfect balance between peat-reek, barley, fruits (getting weaker here on the palate) and a very complex sweetness (brown sugar, glucose). The 46% seem to be the perfect strength here, there is no need to add water and also no wish for more strength (says I, who usually prefer cask strength bottlings...).
Finish: Here now the sweetness delivers a ver! y entertaining wrestling match with an upcoming wooden bitterness which finally gets the upper hand.
Conc.: A perfect Caol Ila. There is no more to say.
Date: Nov/26/2008
Price in Germany: ca 49,00 Euro

Caol Ila 12 years, Sherry Wood
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	50%
Bottler	Gordon & MacPhail

Comment by Henrik Johansson

Date of tasting: 27/3 2009 (SWS tasting)
Apperance: New Gold
Nose: Peaty with some burnt twigs. Pretty spirity with a little acetone. Pine forest, burnt wood. With water some cigarrette butt emerges.
Palate: Remarkably sweet. Roasted seeds which remains all the way through. Well balanced and over all very good. Drier the second time. Some cigarette butt in the diluted finish as well.
90/100

Caol Ila Coiltean 1984-2007
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	45%
Bottler	Samaroli

Comment by Johan Brugge

Colour: dark gold
Nose: Peat, some smoke, medicinal and yet somewhat sweeter than the average Islay whisky. I notice in the background some citrus notes like orange peels and fresh hay. With some water it becomes more open. It's like standing on the beach with a nice breeze. I can sniff this for hours. The citrus notes are a bit more pronounced but not overwhelming. Everything is in perfect balance.
Palate: More peat and smoke but it's not over the top. Some wood, which makes me think of licorice and a hint of vanilla. It's an oil-like whisky which sticks to your mouth. Lovely complexity. It makes me think of a very peated Longrow. Can't be bad. With some water it's a tad sweeter. I prefer it neat. It remains in perfect balance.
Finish: Long. A bit softer than the 'heavy hitters' like Ardbeg or Laphroaig. A little bit of saltiness stays on the lips. After a few minutes I can still taste some wood like the Laphroaig QC.
Comments: A real stunner. I'm glad I openend this bottle. Now I don't have to wonder how this one would taste. A big 95/100!!
95/100