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Caol Ila 12 Year Old

Never heard of it, but loving it !

0 785

@sLesageReview by @sLesage

28th Aug 2009

0

Caol Ila 12 Year Old
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    85

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I actually bought a bottle of Caol Ila at the Airport of Varna (Bulgaria) when heading home from our hollidays. I had never heard of it, but since it's an Islay malt (and I'm quite fond of those), I thought it was a good idea to buy it.

Back home I decided to give it a try, and just as advertised on the packaging it is not quite as strong and smokey tasting as some of the well known neighboors, but it is rather 'balanced'.

I'm not a professional Whiky taster, but if I had to describeit, I would say it doesn't smell as smokey as other Islay Malts, but rather light / fresh and maybe even a bit sweet.

The taste actually is very balanced. The peat and smoke is stronger in the taste than in the aroma, and the finishing is just perfect for my taste.

As I mentioned I never heard of Caol Ila before, but by now I'm a fan :-)

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7 comments

@JonasPothelm
JonasPothelm commented

Try the 18y of Caol Ila - even better than the 12y If you love the peat, try Lagavulin or Laphroaig - both Islay malts J.

15 years ago 0

@sLesage
sLesage commented

Thanks for the comments. I have a bottle of Lagavulin (16y) which I really love. Will try to find out of our local shop sells the 18y Caol Ila.

Regards,

Stefaan

15 years ago 0

j
jgclingenpeel commented

Caol Ila 12 was a good 'gateway' Islay for me - not too harsh on the nose, but still decent peat and smoke. The first time I had Lagavulin I thought I was drinking a wet campfire through a sweaty gym sock. After nursing a few drams of this stuff, I can appreciate the taste of the big boy Islays a lot more.

15 years ago 0

@jeanluc
jeanluc commented

"I thought I was drinking a wet campfire through a sweaty gym sock" - LOL

15 years ago 0

@JonasPothelm
JonasPothelm commented

Recognise the Lagavulin-feeling. But dispite of the campfire and socks, it became one of my favorites !

15 years ago 0

@WhiskyBee
WhiskyBee commented

I know this is an older review, but if you're still around, @sLesage, you might want to consider revising your score so that it's consistent with your comments. Your words imply a score in the 90s, whereas a 50 is regarded as an "F" around here. (It's the sort of score I might give to some of my DYI blending experiments.) ;)

12 years ago 0

@sLesage
sLesage commented

Back in the days ... I don't think the scoring thingie was there ... but updated the score.

12 years ago 0