Review #74 - Caol Ila Cask Strength
Available in the early 2000s, this 'cask strength' bottling of Caol Ila, coming in at an even 55% ABV, could be found at the distillery (and possibly elsewhere, we're not sure). There's no age statement here, but we've generally found Caol Ila to be nice even at much younger ages, so we're not too worried about the youth. We're mostly looking to see how the distillery character was a couple of decades ago, when bottled at a higher strength.
Caol Ila Cask Strength
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 150 (No longer available, secondary market pricing. Previously available from distillery around EUR 50) (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 55% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 4 months; bottles at 50% and 10% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Pretty rich peat on the front end: ashy, mossy, sort of damp and green. Lots of your classic Islay elements here: brine, damp wood or driftwood, slightly vegetal at times, and some light savory meat. We have some dry red wine, and a bit of savory spice to go with it; then, it's on to fruit: lemon, overripe peach, and a bit of meaty blood orange. We finish with a slightly earthy smell.
Palate: Again, we get a big kick of peat on the front of the palate, it's pretty intense, though the experience past the smoke is pretty balanced. There is a bit of astringency running through the cheeks, along with a bit of an ethanol burn, but it's also oily with sweet Lemonhead candies and tart lemon juice. It turns a little dry later with ashier peat, driftwood, and some savory wood char. The mouthfeel is medium, and it's a richly flavored experience overall.
Finish: Medium-long finish - it's hot, oily, and quite peaty. There's sort of a campfire feel in the mouth, bitterness from the oak, and it's quite dry now as opposed to sweet. We do find some lemons and limes, even a few interesting notes like chai spice, and a very subtle savory taste. We finish with notes of watered down lemonade.
Final Note: Tasty stuff, a pretty raw experience with likely some younger Caol Ila. Lots of peat, lots of that classic lighter lemon citrus distillery character you expect from this brand, and there are a few nicely layered savory and oaky notes on top. It can come across as a bit astringent at times, but it's nothing too severe, just a dry experience. If this was still available for the original price, we'd consider picking one up; at the auction prices these days for this discontinued product, it's a 'no' - there are better values out there for cask strength peat.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.59
