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Caol Ila 12 Year Old

Medicinal Peat Marries Overripe Banana

4 1288

@GeorgyReview by @Georgy

6th Dec 2016

0

Caol Ila 12 Year Old
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    88

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Boy, is this whisky charismatic! There're some complex whiskies which are sophisticated, refined, really nicely matured, but they still lack a little something. It's like a person with a whole list of achievements, lots of diplomas, awards, but with no charm or character. They can potentially offer you a lot of stuff, however, they lack certain likeability which is really indescribable. Other people may not have all of the accolades, but there's something about them which makes you feel attracted to them for no obvious reasons. This is how I feel about this standard Caol Ila 12.

NOSE: it doesn't keep you waiting. Smoked paprika, burned oak, creamy, fresh fruits, vanilla and a touch of mint. Smoke and peat are in harmony with the fruit component, they don't dominate here, though. As it sits you also get notes of pickles, peaches, pears as well as medicinal notes and bonfire smoke. After about 15 minutes overripe bananas come to the forefront along with herbal, shoe polish, mothballs and brown sugar. Really, really satisfying! 23/25

TASTE: oily, slightly oaky with mineral damp earth, fruit and peppery dried herbs. A touch of peat and ash. The more it sits, the less dry it becomes, allowing fruit which is slightly astringent to reveal itself on the palate. 21/25

FINISH: slightly ashy, cigar ash, herbal, drying with big iodine component which lingers on. 21/25

BALANCE: 23/25

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I think it's a very delicious whisky which is now one of my absolute favorites.

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12 comments

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

This is a really excellent review. I love your take in the intro.

8 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

If you like this I recommend trying to get your hands on a CS version. Simply spectacular!

8 years ago 0

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

@Nozinan , are you talking about a CS OB? You get those up in Canada, right?

Down here in the US, at least, I think the only CS OBs we ever get are the unpeated annual things.

The great thing about Caol Ila, though, is that IBs put out plenty of their stuff, often at CS. If things stay the way they are now, it's very likely that I'll keep buying Caol Ilas over the years, but very unlikely that any of them will be officials.

8 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Great review. It really makes me want a sip of caol ila! Great whisky too!

8 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

The only CS I have seen in Ontario is 17 YO unpeated, and I have to say it's pretty impressive, but the only reason I got it was because I traded in a bottle someone brought for me by accident that was worth a lot more than I would ever pay for a bottle...

I have had the official NAS 58% bottling and it was fantastic. I tried a few good OBs at Spirit of Toronto as well.

I tried to get a 13 YO G&M CS but as I mentioned above, I bought it but my friend brouht home the wrong bottle from Halifax.

8 years ago 0

@Georgy
Georgy commented

@Ol_Jas Thank you! I appreciate that!

8 years ago 0

@Georgy
Georgy commented

@Nozinan I would love to get my hands on a CS. However, they are quite rare and difficult to come by these days in Moscow. =(

8 years ago 0

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

Is this whisky a good buy at $28USD? I found it in China for what seems like a good deal.

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Ol_Jas
Ol_Jas commented

@casualtorture , YES!

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@casualtorture, that's about half the world average price.

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@jeanluc
jeanluc commented

@casualtorture seems very cheap, is it legit?

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

Yeah it's legit. Every once in a while some of these whiskies go on sale on tmall. I am buying Talisker 10 for $27USD although I think it went up yesterday (maybe$30) and I saw this yesterday for 200rmb (divided by 6.9 = $28.98). I have bought plenty of Talisker the last few weeks, guess it's time for some of this 12yo. Whisky is just starting to catch on in China it seems. Maybe these retailers are trying to get a foothold in the market.

7 years ago 0