“A Soap Opera”
Whisky Review # 1063
Region: Islay
Brand: Caol Ila 2008 - Distilled in May 2008 - Bottled in 2020
Bottled By: The Vintage Malt Whisky Comp. Ltd (VM) - Cooper's Choice series
Type: Single Malt "Single Cask" Scotch Whisky - Cask # 9116 - 324 Bottles
Age: 12 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 54.5%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with Amarone Red Wine cask Finish
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with Amarone Red Wine cask Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Price Average: US$ 100 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline Acceptable
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline Acceptable
Buying Advice: 👎 Look for alternatives like the Longrow 11 Years Cabernet
Color:
Color:
Golden with a shade of red (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Nose:
Be sure to avoid nosing in the middle of the glass to avoid the initial strong waves of Alcohol and Varnish. I'm a big fan of Caol Ila but this Nose does not really work for me. There's an early unpleasant undertone that reminds me of burnt Garden Waste and cheap Soap. I never perceived these notes when tasting the regular Distillery 12 Years so it's likely a cask issue. Over time the Nose improves so be sure to give this Caol Ila enough time in the glass before Nosing. Other than the above the Nose is mostly Sweet but also presents some Sour notes. The typical Islay notes are still there but they are slightly obscured by the Amarone Finish.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Margarine spread, Bacon, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Raisins, Cold Smoke, Wet Peat, Hospital, Rubber, cheap Soap, Leather, Pepper & Ginger.
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Margarine spread, Bacon, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Raisins, Cold Smoke, Wet Peat, Hospital, Rubber, cheap Soap, Leather, Pepper & Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Salted Caramel or Toffee, Vanilla, Roasted Nuts, Grapefruit, Soy Sauce, Balsamic Vinegar, slightly Sour Red Wine, Grass & Straw, Tar, Wet Rocks and Sand, Burnt Orange Skins, Tobacco, Seaweed and Dusty Oak.
Salted Caramel or Toffee, Vanilla, Roasted Nuts, Grapefruit, Soy Sauce, Balsamic Vinegar, slightly Sour Red Wine, Grass & Straw, Tar, Wet Rocks and Sand, Burnt Orange Skins, Tobacco, Seaweed and Dusty Oak.
Palate:
Again, I'm not really pleased with the result. There must have been some issue with the initial Ex-Bourbon casks or the Amarone cask used for the Finishing. It's Dirty but not in a pleasant way. I've had a Longrow 11 Years Cabernet Sauvignon Cask once and that was so much better in every aspect.
Main Flavours:
Again, I'm not really pleased with the result. There must have been some issue with the initial Ex-Bourbon casks or the Amarone cask used for the Finishing. It's Dirty but not in a pleasant way. I've had a Longrow 11 Years Cabernet Sauvignon Cask once and that was so much better in every aspect.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Grains, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Bacon/Fish/Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and mixed Herbs, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Aniseed.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Vanilla, Toasted Nuts, Cooked Vegetables, slightly Sour Red Wine, Soy Sauce and Balsamic Vinegar, Leather, Wet Stones and Sand, Floral Soap, Rubber, Nutmeg and Burnt Grass.
Finish:
Medium-Long. Sweet at first but with developing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The aftertaste is slightly "Dirty" and Metallic. I also find Toasted Grains & Nuts, Cooked Fruits and Vegetables, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs and Lemon, Grapefruit, slightly Sour Red Wine, Dusty Oak, Floral Soap, Aniseed, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Rubber, Leather and old Cigar Boxes.
Medium-Long. Sweet at first but with developing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The aftertaste is slightly "Dirty" and Metallic. I also find Toasted Grains & Nuts, Cooked Fruits and Vegetables, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs and Lemon, Grapefruit, slightly Sour Red Wine, Dusty Oak, Floral Soap, Aniseed, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Rubber, Leather and old Cigar Boxes.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve this Malt. It adds more Acidic notes to the nose.
Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)
Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Borderline okay
Conclusion:
The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers finally became part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is really beautifully located alongside the strait between the islands of Islay & Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 & 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 & 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures. Caol Ila is certainly one of my favorite distilleries and Single Malts.
The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers finally became part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is really beautifully located alongside the strait between the islands of Islay & Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 & 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 & 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures. Caol Ila is certainly one of my favorite distilleries and Single Malts.
Amarone is an Italian Red Wine from the Valpolicella region in Veneto made from partially dried grapes, mainly of the Corvina variety. The Caol Ila I'm reviewing here was finished in a cask (# 9116) that previously held Amarone Wine. I must confess I'm not too pleased with the result. It smells and tastes "Dirty" like an Unfinished Symphony. I must blame the Cask Management. It's either that or I'm having a complete off-day. Because normally I quite enjoy Caol Ila in any shape or form. As it is however I can't recommend this specific VM expression. Too Much Soap Will Kill You as Brian May sang back in the days 😜
Cheers 🥃
