Caol Ila 25-year-old

Overall rating
88.53/100
votes
1629
Whiskybase ID
WB16393
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
19.05.2010
Stated Age
25 years old
Number of bottles
14000
Strength
43.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Bottle code
L0139CM000
Barcode
5000281027098
Added on
22 jun 2010 11:13 am
Colored
Caol Ila 25-year-old
Photo by thebase
Caol Ila 25-year-old
Photo by JollyRoger
Caol Ila 25-year-old
Photo by RoyalScotsman

Average value

€ 243.28

Found 14 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 188.00
de WhiskyQueen.de € 205.00
nl Monk Whisky € 229.99
nl Whiskysite.nl - World Of Fine Spirits € 229.99
gb Malts.com £ 249.99
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Whisky reviews for Caol Ila 25-year-old

120 users have left 135 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 88.53 points.

  1. Kawauso scored this whisky 90 points Member Senior

    Very smooth and slightly sweet.
    Smokiness is more subdued than A. And the softness that wraps around the whole thing is pleasant.
    Overall, the wine is gentle, and one can sense a firm sense of maturity.
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      89 89

  2. Whiskydufftown scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  3. InbhirNis scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Sampled as part of The Good Spirits Company's 11th birthday tasting.

    A very pleasant surprise - I'm now actively seeking a bottle.
    • Nose
      91 91
      Pretty pungent, rubbery opening, bit of chlorine. Becoming rootier as it opens, in the very best style of Port Ellen. Is that urea I detect?! Really, really shouldn't work, but somehow it does.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Oof, huge attack, especially for 43%, quite sweet. Perhaps the mouthfeel is slightly thin, but the flavours are genuinely lovely, with menthol coming to the fore.
    • Finish
      90 90
      Very long and ashy - the peat rises from the nose through the palate to a crescendo here. It's like eating a comforting fire.

  4. valasios scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  5. zzqfyl scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  6. PanAroma0815 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  7. Monstruo scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  8. kikist scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Really good for the price
    • Nose
      90 90
      Sunflower oil, light peat, floral, bitterness, old wood
    • Taste
      84 84
      Olive oil, fruity, mineral, white chocolate, spicy
    • Finish
      93 93
      Watery, spicy, smoke, new leather, pepper

  9. WillWhisky scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Nice and comfort to the price

  10. WHISKYEUROPA2009 scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
      sweet and spicy, with notes of dried fruit, a sea spray and freshly polished wood.
    • Taste
      92 92
      very sweet and fruity with a balancing bitter note. Balanced by its age with a typical medicinal, smoky character. Oily mouthfeel, sweet, dry, elegant and gentle.
    • Finish
      92 92
      very long, sweetish-dry.

  11. LaurensVD scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  12. tribe scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    It was good, but I have to admit that I had a battle with the 27 sweet the discounter. In my honest opinion after 2x test, I found the bracken better. Here it is a bit too woody and bitter for me, but of course has such nice spices ... The 18 oe also tasted better for me personally
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  13. BarrelBeast scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    Youtube Review: https://youtu.be/5mnD_hUuRfA
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      90 90

  14. face scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      90 90

  15. Allandale scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Smokiness and leather.
    • Nose
      Complex nose of smoke, liquorice, vanilla and intense freshly-mown grass.
    • Taste
      Rich and creamy with notes of toffee and caramel, with leathery notes coming to the fore towards the end.
    • Finish
      A long but subtle finish, with the leather and sweeter notes continuing from the palate.
      A superb all rounder.

  16. riegerjonas scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    2021-02-07
    • Nose
      95 95
      fresh, very nice smell, crumble cake, butter, light apple, green apple, light sweetness, of course a little smoke, very delicate, almost like a perfume, floral, light caramel
    • Taste
      88 88
      Balanced, bread-like, cake, marzipan, slightly smoky
    • Finish
      88 88
      somewhat watery

  17. LDB scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    I want to come around the corner with a comparison:
    Caol Ila 25 competes against Ben Bracken Islay 27 WID: 104496

    So that's the same DNA, but the 25yo OA is much more elegant, with finer smoke aromas, the Ben B. is already snottier despite its 2 years more.

    Basically, they offer a similar citrus note smoke or rather ash enjoyment. I then diluted the Ben Bracken down to approx. 43% in order to have "fairer" requirements.
    So the result that was astonishing for me was that despite the initial great sympathy for the 25yo OA, today the Ben Bracken was slightly ahead, more intense aromas, good, a bit "dirtier", but not quite as bitter as the Caol Ila in the finish (although that still is relatively delicate with CI).

    But that may be different on other days. They are both good!
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  18. Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    A weak 25 yo malt in my book, but works very well with Champagne (no bs, try it!): A glass of Champagne and maybe 2 cl Caol Ila 25 tastes very good, adds slight smoke and austere earthiness to the Champagne. Just wunderful. Other than that for old Caol Ila, get the 27 yo @46% abv. from Lidl for 90 EUR instead.

  19. Slàinte Mhath scored this whisky 90 points Super Administrator

    If you could buy a 25-year-old Ardbeg or Lagavulin for way under 200 €, most peatheads would go nuts. Not so with Caol Ila, which has always puzzled me. Delicate, complex and surprisingly fruity, the aroma ranges from peach, lemon oil and mild spices to pinewood, soot and hints of sage. Flavorwise, the peat smoke has taken a back seat, while aromatic, citric and slightly resinous notes mingle with eucalyptus, honey and white pepper. Espresso, salmiak and even a touch of gin fade in the gentle finish. Showcasing the quiet side of Islay, this is a superb malt.

    RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      89 89

  20. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2021/01/25/swc-members-grand-dram-4/

    These official 25yo’s used to be bottled at cask strength under Daigeo’s ‘Special Releases’ series. Since 2010, as a core range release, they have been presented at 43%.

    N: It’s a whisky I know well enough, mostly because – until fairly recently – it was remarkably affordable. As a result, I guessed this was the an official Caol ila 25yo, even before I knew it was in the line-up. Its dreamy fruity juicy fragrant creamy-fresh barley nose with more than a phenol suggestion, has everything you could ask for from a well aged yet still spritely nose, one I likened to a blend of Springbank mixed with the earlier Balvenie.

    T: Oh so lovely, delicious, dreamy. I’m enjoying the abv-soft ones more and more these days. Tonight I picked out soft sweet smoky cocoa > raisiny [sweetcorn?] barley with a little seaweed and half a fresh oyster. Oozes dry, very relaxed.

    F: Soft humming [almost a purr] cocoa > faint smoked salted raisins,… salty bonfires,… this is effortlessly easy whisky to sit back with, those bourbon casks wonderfully submissive. Refill refill refill!!!

    C: Doesn’t require too much thinking in its own right, a 1/4 bottle can be gone in no time. ‘Easy going’ has always been this one’s charm ever since I’ve known it. Funny that some see its softness as a negative, but then these days, we are so frequently plied with cask strength offerings. One of my favourites. Great dram.

  21. Cyril31 scored this whisky 80 points Member Senior

    It's a 12 years but concentrate with more taste without the acid side. The vanilla is more present. More wide.
    The finish is like her sister, quite short.

  22. Totoro scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Beware of batch variation...
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  23. Lebenswassertester scored this whisky 89 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      sweet fruity campfire smoke
      ripe fruit, honey, cereals and a maritime note
      all together in beautiful harmony
    • Taste
      refreshing and sweet
      Menthol and citrus fruits
    • Finish
      lots of salt and peat

  24. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/10/05/revisiting-caol-ila/

    Time to revisit an old favourite.

    N: A quietly oaky creamy lactose nose [as seen from another bottle I enjoyed in 2018], with a mild kipper-y waft that hovers lightly over vanilla-ey crisp green apples into smoky calvados. With a tempered-yet-present vanilla-steered [ex-] bourbon cask influence, this smells like refill cask-matured spirit that has seen some deliberate first-fill activation. Later on, it’s more on sour medicinal citrus with a more farmy [> over coastal] direction with some industrial chemical raisin hues in the mix.

    T: Being easy [and fun] to read, everyone will offer up their own varied descriptors. Mine: chewy citrus-sweet briny vanilla into ashy citrus, though from memory, it appears less ashy and more ‘active’ than previous bottles I’ve enjoyed.

    F: Being surprisingly firm at 43% abv, a rounded tasty colourful journey sees a smoky briny chocolate-y conclusion.

    C: I find this more of a ‘modernised’ version compared to a number of bottles I’ve enjoyed in the last 10 years, those that appeared more refill-matured and gentile. That homogenous Jim Beam ‘vanilla’ quality continues to bug me, but perhaps this expression captures a fine balance between two defining eras. A beautifully packaged, high-performing, and well-priced classic, it remains.

  25. Der_Schnappulierer scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A beautiful, mature Caol Ila. It doesn't need a lot of idle time, it opens pretty quickly. At Caol Ila you know what you have, namely solid craft. You can occupy yourself with the 25 y for a while, an example of a great old smoker at a "fair" price.
    • Nose
      87 87
      It starts with very little smoke, the first thing I smell is fruit. But everything is pretty old and really dignified. Then come some bacon, leather and tobacco. You notice the age.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Much smokier than on the nose, like most Caol Ila, nice and oily. You can taste the leather and bacon too. After the second sip, some (dark) tobacco. Great!
    • Finish
      87 87
      Long with nice, light smoke.

  26. g00se did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Solid Islay Malt.
    I find the bitter note in the taste irritating, so no final evaluation yet.
    • Nose
      Very maritime. Fresh sea air, wet sand, dried seaweed and distant campfire smoke.
      The smoke in particular is constantly changing, initially smoke becomes more peaty later.
    • Taste
      The start is bitter like coffee beans. The consistency is oily. A slightly sharp note, which I already had on the nose, reminds me even more of alcohol.
    • Finish
      Yeah haha now the smoke is coming. Especially with the second and third sip.

  27. ThinLizzy scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  28. JNuyts scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  29. Kantenmechaniker scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    A well-matured smoker, filigree, the smoke is well integrated, otherwise incredibly sweet, but not a complexity monster
    • Nose
      A wonderfully fresh smoker, pleasant sweet smoke, clear citrus notes, grated lemon peel, vanilla, malt, with the smoke comes spice, black pepper, caramel, chalk, quince syrup, leather, marzipan in the background, apple
    • Taste
      nice pleasant sweet smoke, honey, malt, vanilla, creamy, caramel, sweet red apple, some mint on the palate, a little floral, salt on the tip of the tongue, a breeze of cinnamon, very sweet overall, pleasant to drink
    • Finish
      juicy, sweet, mealy apple, long-lasting, the smoke becomes noticeably less, almost no longer there, and then it comes ashy around the corner again

  30. Dris scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  31. gaboruso scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      88 88

  32. peatbogger scored this whisky 91 points Specialist

    A great thank you to Slàinte Mhath and Feorag86 for this generous 700ml "sample" :-)
    A good representative of the more matured and more rounded and refined side of Islay.
    • Nose
      92 92
      First thing to hit the nose is a light sweet fruityness.
      Quite a bit of citrus, but a very sweet kind, almost sugary orange.
      Also apple peel and melon.
      There's smoke, very lightly peated. Nowhere near the Islay peat in younger peated Caol Ila.
      Even so, leave the glass for a while and there are notes of slightly sour maritime peat and smokey bacon sitting on top of the glass.
      Deeper down some fine leather notes, and some very nice roasted barley.
      A really great nose, delicate and nicely ballanced.
    • Taste
      90 90
      Texture is not quite up to oily, but it's mouth covering and sticky.
      Smoke and peat more prominent on arrival, then it kind of retracts.
      Some fruity sweetness that I can't define, as it is rapidly over powered by dried meat, leather and slightly salty chocolate.
    • Finish
      91 91
      The smoke returns in the finish.
      With it a groving sweetness.
      A pinch of salt.
      Quite long and pleasant.

  33. LeChiffre scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Very complex and intense sweet malt with beautifully integrated smoky notes. Works very balanced and set, but without being boring. There's a lot to discover. Sweeter and fuller / rounder compared to the 18J. In the offer a recommendation.
    • Nose
      89 89
      nice smoky note (towards campfire and slightly medically); slightly greasy; intense sweetness with citrus fruits; some toffee; creamy and set
    • Taste
      89 89
      creamy soft; sweet; Honey; a bit greasy; Forest floor; a nicely bound present smoke note (cold campfire)
    • Finish
      88 88
      rather medium length; sweet; dry; smoky

  34. LordIslay scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    Pretty good Caol Ila!

  35. Islaywolf scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      91 91

  36. WSP scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      90 90

  37. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    I can understand that so many like it. He has almost reached the maximum harmony for an Islay Heavily Peated. Seldom so drunk a mild, yet intensely aromatic and balanced Torfer. The perfect High End Daily Dram from Islay.
    • Nose
      Very sweet, peat, intense, but mild, a little tendency towards ashes, but ripe fruit, some slightly rotten lemon, vanilla. Intense, but also very round and harmonious.
    • Taste
      Almost palatable. Here one notices the age, one finds nutmeg granny's spice cupboard, classical age wood notes, without that the wood somehow dominates. to a strong, but somehow round smoke. You can have it in your mouth for a very long time without it tipping away in any direction.
    • Finish
      The finish offers spices, oak, peat smoke, light ash, a little vanilla and is surprisingly never bitter.

  38. Lorion scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Madness! What a whisky. Unbeatable for the price! 89 points!
    • Nose
      90 90
      Herbs. Mountain pine. Pinecone. A glowing pine needle goes out. A trail of smoke remains. Resiny, earthy, subtly sweet. Spicy oak.
    • Taste
      91 91
      The nose is confirmed. The whisky is incredibly full. Earthy smoke, no ashes. Forest floor, resinous pine cones, various herbs. Just great!
    • Finish
      87 87
      Medium to long, earthy, dry with oak.

  39. craide scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Gorgeous fresh creamy malt. Nose is terrific. Many different flavors harmonize very well together. A true olfactory monster. The light smoke is consistently there, but does not bother. Make the whole thing nice.
    In terms of taste, it fades out in the back, which is a pity.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Dry onset with a sweet slightly fruity note. The smoke is right there, but does not bother and is not too dominant. with sweet fruits. Nice and pleasantly fresh with apples, citrus fruits. Nice salty maritime touch. With some time, a fine vanilla is added.
    • Taste
      88 88
      remig, soft. Light tingle with dark chocolate. In addition a recurring honey sweet. Everything with fine smoke and salt. Again, nothing pushes forward. Everything is very balanced and harmonious.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Medium long with smoke some licorice, rather salty, becomes drier and sweeter.

  40. Stanzeflasche scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    Robust smoke, chocolate. It's fruity, sweet, banana, juicy apple, pomegranate, currant. A touch of peat to cement everything. Slightly peppery, woody, caramel, liquorice, pumpkin on the palate. It's oily. Exotic fruits stand out: mango, maracuja. Endless finish, chocolate and hazelnuts, or would it be puffed rice? Some spices, cardamom, cinnamon, saffron. After a few minutes, a zest of lemon, a touch of salt.

    https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2020/06/caol-ila-25-yo.html
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      91 91

  41. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/feis-ile-2018-caol-ila-part-1/

    N: Superbly balanced, ideally aged Caol Ila through and through. Of the core range, this is the one I have the biggest soft spot for. It’s reasonably priced too.
    T: Enjoy this one neat if you can. Water almost kills it, save for the sweet vegetal smooth oily/briny chew.
    F: A deeper finish than the previous expressions, though with rougher/edgier coal=char & straight peat smoke action.
    C: Pretty much ideal Caol Ila, though the 12yo & 18yo can be as equally superb.

  42. Moses scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    I had times somewhere for just under 100 EUR. From this top PLV, it was not far to try this malt. Now I'm glad to have 2 more of it. House whisky.
    • Nose
      91 91
      The nose is a dream. A campfire by the sea with sweet fruits and leathery soft smoke. Bright apples as well as spicy dark herbs peat. Christmas ingredients like nuts, clementines in a dusty, musty leather bag. Is there some thyme in the background? Very very fine.
    • Taste
      87 87
      The palate does not hold what the nose promises. But wonderfully oily and creamy, he goes to the mouth. Now more towards wood campfire and tender coffee notes. Salty troche fruits in the middle part and the sour apple in addition. Alright, but not as good as expected. Nevertheless top level.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Medium to short but soft, this dried fruit with off-drying oak and spicy wood notes. Some citrus notes with sweet peat and again the sea breeze. Very pleasantly mild and soft, he seduces constantly to refill. Class malt.

  43. wisekyofcourse scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    surprised the price almost too low !!
    • Nose
      vanilla, lemon, grassy peat and a rather sodden woody, diffusing!
    • Taste
      pleasant sensation of wet flowers, diffusing (still) in the mouth a full sensation, on the wood as well present, on the fruits walls, cooked, remaining on the edge of the fire,
      it is caramelized, on salted butter, it is peaty but it fades on the grass, there is also meat meat, grilled, smoke!
    • Finish
      peppery spice, woody present,
      moderate peat, it is especially the smoked, the cooked ham which returns long in the mouth
      brewed and stewed fruits
      final long enough!

  44. KayMeertens scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Apple juice, candied orange, peach, peat and honey.
    • Taste
      Peat, honey, tangerine, apple and spicy 'peppernuts'.
    • Finish
      Peat, tangerine, honey, apple and spice.

  45. Dyno scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

  46. toklian scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    N22 P21 F21 B22

  47. alex..w..fan scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    22 21 22 21 86
    Good drinking whisky, but does not draw a lot of points, sorry

  48. Glenjasper scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      89 89

  49. kot1803 scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  50. birkzehn scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      90 90

  52. Egge scored this whisky 90 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      90 90
      First very subtle smoke, then bacon. The figs and raisins move forward pleasantly, a few dried fruits.

      Leathery books, such as an old library, slide forward, then vanilla, chocolate and figs again.
    • Taste
      91 91
      In the beginning strong peat smoke, which, before you know it, is gone again. There remain bacon and leather, old, dignified oak.

      Then mild chocolate, but it gets tighter.

      A pleasant, somehow old taste remains on the tongue. I would compare the mouthfeel with chocolate cream. Quite pleasant, full ... great!
    • Finish
      90 90
      Rather long than short. Pleasantly dry without being exhausting. The smoke rises significantly in the finish, in the background a sweetness, which I can not accurately assign.

  53. Willum scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  54. St. Pauli scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    A good whisky. Balanced and well-behaved. 
    • Nose
      A fair amount of peat smoke, sea spray, crispy bacon, vanilla, yellow fruit, but also raisin and other dried fruit. Then, barley and a hint of mint. 
    • Taste
      Again, the smoke is fairly decent. Now, it's even more in the direction of wood and bbq. Glazed, barbecued spare ribs, bacon and the like. Then there is dried fruit, lemon, cardamom and allspice. 
    • Finish
      Long and lingering, not aggressive, only mildly spicy. Most noticeable is still the peat smoke, now a bit earthier with licorice. Then, orange and dried fruit. 

  55. Moses scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      89 89

  56. Achany scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    the nose started slow and maybe it was just my biased expectation. this is a gentle malt! peat, salty, some bacon, some sea fruits, spices, oaky, hints of pepper even, sweet vanilla, some yellow fruits as well, a distant barbecue, some dark chocolate as well. that malt takes time, the finis is nicley and really long lasting. the price is more than all right! Some very fine old peated sinlge malt. gentle and dignified.
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      91 91

  57. Markie81 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      85 85

  58. Jambon scored this whisky 91 points Expert Junior

    Sweet and smokey.

  59. Koalafant scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Blindtasting 23.02.2018 => 87/100

  60. larswehmeier scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Fine, well integrated smoke note. Elegant sweetie. Honey. The typical salty sea breeze of Caol Ila comes to light after a while. Surprisingly easy for old age. Great complexity.
    • Taste
      Creamy and oily in the mouthfeel. Very sweet, almost sticky. Acts almost like a liqueur. Add an aromatic smoke with this touch of salt. Overall, very tasty!
    • Finish
      Rather light. Sweet and smoky.

  61. mema82 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  62. Kreimann scored this whisky 90 points Expert Junior

    my highlight in 2017, surprisingly much smoke after 25 years in the barrel, good PLV compared to other 25er Islays, additional purchase
    • Nose
      fruity smoke, apple, medicinal
    • Taste
      sweet onset, gets slightly peppery, strong smoke
    • Finish
      long, soft sweet smoke

  63. Caoldronach scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    WWW ... "What a Wonderful Whisky"! Elegant, significant, noble, precious.

    Although I normally prefer whisky at cask strength and like to adapt the ABV individually (sometimes leaving it as is), the ABV of 43% fits perfectly to the sophisticated and elegant profile of this outstanding Caol Ila.

    It is a typical older Caol Ila, the peat from young Caol Ilas is transformed into an unobstrusive layer surrounding a clean complex taste of highest quality. "This is the taste of distinct luxury" ;-). Check the shop links @whiskybase or browse the internet, you can get it for around 100 Euros, only, right now (before Christmas 2017), this is a real bargain (normally it costs around 150 Euros being still a reasonable price for such a high quality, especially when taking into account that it's a 25 y.o. original bottling from one of the major traditional Islay distilleries. At least regarding the price level of 2017 during the malt whisky boom, especially the hyper boom for Islay malts).
    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      92 92

  64. Paszko scored this whisky 89 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      90 90

  65. morris scored this whisky 89 points Expert Junior

    A mature and very oily old OB, but crisp, coastal and fresh in the meantime. All aromas are well integrated, whispering, fragrant and complex. No islay loudspeaker here. Very sensual whisky! I love it!

  66. malthead-1984 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      92 92
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      89 89

  67. malthead-1984 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    nice malt and a good entry into the 25ies Islay Malts. An attractive PLV to remember the characteristics of maturity, but still no competition to a Bunna or Laga 25y
    • Nose
      Directly full of aromas, complex and round they stiffen the nose. dark honey-like fruits, plum dates and a few wild berries. At the same time there is a beautiful mild warm smoke which is beautifully integrated. He immediately makes a complex and really mature impression. the wort of the barrel remains in the background but is still noticeable, then some iodine, rubber and heath which connect beautifully with each other
    • Taste
      Slightly velvety with a light body, he runs on the tongue almost a bit watery. here are the smoke and the wort from the barrel dominant, but are hardly tannins available rather a nice seasoning. In between, even a few Sherrynoten come through
    • Finish
      a long but not very complex finish. the mild iodine-containing smoke and the spice from the barrel are also prominent here. The finish is medium in length, however, the smoke remains beautiful long on the palate

  68. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2017/09/25/bottle-polishing-scottish-islands/

    N: Pretty dreamy. Vegetal, soft smoky toasted vanilla, some fruit decay, mature ‘open’ soft French cheese[s] [but which ones?], a smidgen of soot=shoe polish and liquorice wood [spot on Serge]. It’s all perfectly soft for my nose.
    T: A decidedly firm savoury/mulch-y/malty start, the mouthfeel dry-oily and moving chocolate-y and the smokiness deep and subtly penetrating. More toasted vanilla again, a touch squidgy-malty-spongy and medicinal hints equal to more liquorice wood.
    F: Once the smoked vanilla sponge settles, it’s decidedly dry, ashy and vegetal-sweet – the spirit smoky-clean.
    C: Showing no lack of commitment at 43%, 25 years+ has delivered a wonderfully mature, super-chilled Islay malt that goes for a very respectable €140 [Sept ’17]. One of my favourite smokers this year.Scores a B[+]

  69. hs305 scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    [September, 2017]  What is better:  A batch that contains the flavours of many different casks or a carefully selected single cask release?  To check this I selected two 25-years old Caol Ila from the great 1984 vintage for a head-to-head namely this original bottling (OB) bottled May, 19th, 2010 and a Bladnoch Forum release (BF, WB id17481) with 52% abv.

    Colour:  The OB is at old gold (but remember Diageo uses caramel to fix the colour) while the BF is at jonquiripe corn.  The texture of the BF shows medium fast legs and many small sticky tears.  The OB shows much slower legs and late fat sticky tears so its oiliness is better.  

    Nose:  The OB offers a real great nose on lots of different aromas with adorable peaty, fruity, malty and spicy wooden notes and some OBFs.  It is very complex and beautiful balanced, one to sniff for hours.  The BF is more closed due to the abv but owns a peaty, malty and wooden profile too, just the fruits are shy in the background.  I like the OB more here.

    Initial mouthfeel:  The OB instantly coats all of the mouth with a warming feeling, no distracting moments (just as the texture promised).  The BF is coating too (but less than the OB) and it has a slight drying feeling (metallic).  Again I like the OB better.

    Taste:  The BF shows a peaty-barley sugary-herbal flavours profile that is somewhat layered and easy to sip.  The OB is truly multi-layered and multi-flavoured on the palate, very delicious.  I do not name all the different flavours but it adds nice chocolatey and honey-sweet notes to the peat and fruits.  This is simply "lecker".  I prefer the OB by several points.

    Finish:  Both own a long finish that nicely vanishes in waves.  The OB is really sticky here and I still taste it even after minutes with all of its beauty.  No bitter or drying notes at all.  The BF adds more sugars to the finish and has no distracting moment either.  Nevertheless I prefer the OB again.

    Water opens the BF up and the nose gets more complex as does the taste - now it comes closer to the OB and guess what, I like it best when reduced to about the same strength as the OB.  Water is not needed on the OB (it just gets flatter).

    So this head-to-head showed a clear result:  A batch of many (good) casks provide a greater aromas and flavours variety and a more balanced profile than just a single cask (of course, it all depends on which single cask was choosen).  As all bottlings of the 1984 vintage of Caol Ila (that I tasted so far) were great the 2010 Diageo 25-year old should be and indeed is a stunner.  I tasted all later 25-year Diageo Caol Ila releases and they are good too, but this one is the best so far.
    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      91 91

  70. jeoff scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  71. kimmosuo scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  72. hs305 scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    [May, 2017]  I had this dram during the First Annual Caol Ila Feis Ile Dinner (yes, this was the official name of it!) at the Ballygrant's Inn.  And I did it head-to-head versus the 30-years old (WB id 58218).

    Colour:  Both have the same colour of old gold (yes, Diageo uses caramel to fix it that way).  The texture of the 25y shows some fast fat legs and late sticky tears.  The 30y shows early but very small tears and some late slow legs and fat tears.

    Nose:  The 25y offers this adorable sweet and strong phenolic profile with maritime aromas and some nice OBFs that I adore, one to sniff for hours.  The nose of the 30y is more subtle but on the same profile.  Hard to say which one is better - the 30y is more complex and delicate while the 25y is more powerful and impressive. Finally I opt for the 30y.

    Mouthfeel:  The 30y instantly coats the whole of the mouth with a slightly peppery feeling but without any distracting (bitter or drying) moments.  That is really good!  Surprisingly the 25y is smoother than the 30y on the mouthfeel but at least as much coating.

    Taste:  A very mellow and complex sweet-peaty-phenolic-maritime profile on the 25y that is multi-layered, really excellent.  The 30y counters this with more punchiness (surprisingly) and a greater complexity of flavours adding more spicy and malty aromas to it than the 25y.  But again I like the 25y a little better (on a very high level).

    Finish:  Both are very long with the 30y vanishing in several waves without any distracting notes.  Close to perfection it is (remember Yota)!  The 25y finishes a little shorter (just long, not very long...), but again without any flaws or off-notes.  This round wins the 30y year old.

    Water is not needed on both (it does not really harm and smoothen the drams even further, but it takes away some power, too).  I am really blown away by the high quality of both drams, the only flaw is the drinker-unfriendly price tag choosen by Diageo for the 30 year old.  I am willing to pay as much as 250 Euro for the 30 year old - but not a single Cent more!
    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      91 91

  73. ctu scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Pleasant, complex, matured Caol Ila.
    • Nose
      Oily. Sweet peat, salt, green tea, grapefruit, grass and herbals.
    • Taste
      Fresh. Big dose of sweet peat, tannic oak, vanilla, bergamot oil, ash and iodine.
    • Finish
      Long, dry and spicy with tobacco and ash.

  74. pianoman scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Distant smoke, essential oils. Mint, sage, eucalyptus. Lemons. Baked banana with honey. Light embers from the fireplace.
    • Taste
      Campfire smoke, honey, milk chocolate, oriental spices. Some pepper, hazelnut and sweetened black tea. Medium.

  75. StyrianSpirit scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    I do not feel the 25 years here - no oak, no really long finish. It does not have to be bad and is always a matter of experience and expectation. In a blind button, this 25-year-old would probably be far ahead. Personally, the Lagavulin Distillers Edition tastes even better.
    • Nose
      Comes very nice in the glass. Beautiful smoke - rather slightly medicinal phenolic (in contrast to the selchrauchartigen Benromachs); reminds of the Lagavulins. Already in the smoke a slight sweetness resonates.
    • Taste
      Comes very gently into the mouth and actually gets more fruity there; very soft. As far as the fruit components are concerned, I can completely join the pre-testers.
    • Finish
      Goes into a gentle, but warm finish. Reminds me strongly of the Lagavulin DE; becomes noticeably more fruity on the second sip.

  76. domani scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A silky and supple whisky with fine aromas. Rather quiet and restrained with a spicy-sweet bouquet to enjoy without overstraining - 25.03.2017
    • Nose
      Smoke is very reserved, slightly mineral, salty-maritime, smoky notes, apple, pear, star fruit, apricot, silky, creamy, delicate herbs, spicy-sweet bouquet
    • Taste
      Creamy, buttery, salty-sweet, the aromas are carried by light smoke, spicy, fine sweetish malt, some tannins, surprisingly little bitter notes
    • Finish
      medium

  77. hans1971 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  78. dRambo scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Nose: faint smoke, a bit like lime dust in the nose, removes a little oak, weak grapefruit and sweetness
    Taste: Sweet wood, oily balance, pepper, mountain pine, delicate carnation .. with the second sip of intense tobacco, liquorice, warming, finish becoming more intense
    Conclusion: Has some of Bowmore White Sands but the Bowmore tastes better, not a bad malt but nothing special, I would not value the price, a maximum of half.
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      85 85

  79. Pollenflug scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    More on: https://tomtrinkt.blog/
    • Nose
      Low campfire smoke, some bacon and tobacco. Appearances of light fruits, such as lemons, apricots and green apples. A touch of vanilla with honey and a slight oak flavor.
    • Taste
      Extremely creamy, very soft and harmonious. Pleasant camp fire smoke with a very light pepperiness, paired with a little caramel and sweet fruits form the balanced backbone. Fir needles, leather, spicy oak notes, milk chocolate and a pinch of salt complete the complex taste experience.
    • Finish
      Medium to long. Sweet smoke, lemon, some more caramel and spicy oak notes. Very gentle and warm. Slightly drier without bitterness.

  80. Goethe scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Very good Caol Ila. Quite complex.

    Concerning price/performance ratio: 7/10
    • Nose
      Peat. Sweet salmon, burned wet wood, salty, oil, grapefruit.
    • Taste
      Peaty sweetness, citrus, salt, almonds, sweet liquorice.
    • Finish
      Long. Salt, smoked salmon, a bit dry, some sweet tobacco.

  81. Eilean a' Cheo scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    I liked the 18 a little better to be honest, maybe a higher abv and some sherry casks were nedded for the extra oomph.However the nose is superb.

    89
    • Nose
      leafy peatiness, dry, more austere than the 18 years old, aged wood vanillins,smoked green tea leaves, lemon peel, delicate and a bit fresh
    • Taste
      fresh and light attack with leafy peat, briny, spicy, aged sweet bourbony wood vanillins and some nice coastal iodine touches
    • Finish
      spicy leafy peatiness, long but getting fresh and clean

  82. vojt466 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Gorgeous, smelling, smell and rich in flavor, the wood takes me somewhere summer to campfire
    • Nose
      The peat is soon drawn from the outskirts, but soon it is replaced by a moderate variant associated with woodiness, the scent of dry wood, the scent of the fireplace, asphalt, vanilla and sweet gum. This blending of the smell of wood and smoke is excellent, it is standing next to a fireplace and putting a dull fireplace on it. Overall, the scent is beautifully smooth even though some moderate spices are found there
    • Taste
      Taste is a sign of the fusion of smoke from the fireplace, chocolate biscuits, vanilla, tar, oil, and maybe a little bit of a shredded citrus fruit. Again, it is all very smooth, spice shamelessly popping up in the background
    • Finish
      In the reverberation, again, the wood appears again, this time I would say in a little tanned form, toasted toast, bitter chocolate, burned gum - I could probably still do this, thankfully thanks to the long reverberation, my prayer is heard :)

  83. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    N: This is some nose. There were many changes in descriptors over the course of an hour, such was the evolution of complexity. Descriptors that remained most robust included smoked [peppered] ham, allium [onions], chemically-treated leather, old rose water, fishing trawler diesel, kippers, hard goats cheese and so much farm! It's a fabulous nose with lots and lots to peruse.

    T: Rather more simple on the palate than on the nose. First establishes itself on smoked barley spirit with a herbal, fresh oily side. Appears slightly juvenile first off but the more i get to know it and the longer i retain the juice in the mouth, the creamier it gets with a dry body and plenty of tannins - which suggests it’s way older than it first seemed. A little thin yet its not soft nor fragile, resulting in a style full of grace and charm.

    F: Smoky and dry with Kit Kat chocolate and mange tout. Old dry finish.

    C: A great nose ramps the score up significantly from the off but it’s very decent throughout.

    Scores a B[+]

    Take 2:
    N: Fruit sugars so dense and dry [oaked], the sugars have turned savoury. Reddish Pippin apples, Paxo [sage & onion] gammon and perhaps some umami? - oh yes, a little. The wood has imparted such a rich creaminess.
    T: It’s impossible not to appreciate what the years in decent casks have done here. Lots of sweet bourbon notes come through later. It’s not overly complex on the palate but boy is it delicious.
    F: Wood tannins, peat<smoke [by now permeated and infused in the mix], and lots of bourbon cask action. Some raw potato appears alongside more bourbon honeyed sugars, the tannins balanced with the peat<smoke.
    C: Wowee, what a cracker. I’m getting a bottle, and significantly upping my initial score. A fabulous end to another cracking Malt n Copper. Last word from Matt LINK.

    Scores an A-

  84. Landryn scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      88 88

  85. LiquidThoughts scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    An understated 25er, Caol Ila typical, I like 'Caol Ila', so he scores higher than many others for sure ...
    • Nose
      Gentle campfire, really warm coastal air, green apple, apricot in brine, creaminess, fine thyme
    • Taste
      Charcoal but very gentle, dried fruit in oily brine again, pine needles scattered along the coast, something exotic in between, very oily-creamy as one of Caol Ila knows
    • Finish
      Unfortunately, not too long, sweet peat, coast, lemon zest, very pleasantly gentle, although something feeble

  86. AH Whiskyvitrine scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  87. Archer scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  88. Archer scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Start with a very relaxed nose. And when you think, 'was that now?' he opens up wonderfully and delivers beautiful "elderly" flavors. And that both in the nose, as well as on the tongue. I like it very much. Until recently you could find it for less than 100 €. Now he's getting dressed, but still worth his money.
    • Nose
      In the distance a little bit of soft smoke, hardly noticeable. And like a breeze over again. A lightly spicy bacon note comes, raisins and figs work forward. At first rather discreet and restrained, the sweetness of the dried fruit unfolds its full force after a short time. Now come also leather and tobacco notes, to fine-sour chocolate and vanilla. Nice development in the nose.
    • Taste
      This is where the peat smoke on the tongue makes itself felt right at the beginning. However, he is withdrawn just as quickly as when Verriechen. Also on the tongue comes after a while a nice bacon note, in addition to old leather and: beautiful old oak planks. Vanilla and milk chocolate are coming. Over time, the "elderly" taste on the tongue tart, peppery, almost furry - and then gets the curve to a pleasantly fluffy creaminess.
    • Finish
      Medium to long, pleasantly dry, plum sweet and with returned fine smoke.

  89. Othorion scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    certainly not the most complex or even best 25 years I know, but just delicious and extremely tasty!
    • Nose
      mild smoke, grass, wild herbs, lemon with honey, apples, some apple cider vinegar
    • Taste
      soft and gentle in the mouth, very pleasant, vanilla, smoke, oranges in dark chocolate
    • Finish
      warming, smoke, chocolate, delicate spice, a hint of ginger

  90. Doctor B. scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  91. Segens scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Quite mild drink but I expected more from a Caol Ila 25. The low alcohol does not carry all the taste. Although it seems to be a pretty good peat entrance whisky for people that wanna try peated whiskys.
    • Nose
      Sea salt and herbs. Very mild.. Of course peat and a little apple/pear note in the back. 
    • Taste
      Fruity almost no smoke on the tongue. It is giving a huge palate of fruity, salty and herbs but not too much of them either.
    • Finish
      Nothing really special for me here!

  92. cavalier66 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    9 word review:

    Mild peat over subtle fruit; medium complexity, strength & finish.

  93. zormik scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  94. ovanpuyvelde scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      87 87

  95. hfos scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  96. Dionysus scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  97. KayMeertens scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Sample, unknown bottle code.
    • Nose
      A strong yellow fruitiness like kaki or apricot, as well as some peat of course. A little cherry, caramel, vanilla and chocolate. Later apple and in the distance banana.
    • Taste
      More peat. Pepper and leather. Still the yellow fruits, but much less present. Later gingerbread.
    • Finish
      Peat, apple, peach and tobacco. 

  98. Gloin scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Age has taken the whisky's wildness. The smoke is present but gentle. The overall picture of smell, taste and finish is conclusive: a dainty, smoky islay whisky.
    • Nose
      Medium smoke, sweet lemon, aniseed, pipe tobacco, vanilla, hints of grassy notes, and a touch of toothpaste
    • Taste
      Gentle, soft onset and soft body, slightly smoky, some orange, smoked fish, sweet custard
    • Finish
      The whisky gently smoky warms the palate and neck, only slight oak notes, vanilla, again a little smoked fish, quite long

  99. Daan Tje scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  100. Thermidor scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Many of the current (within the last 5 years or so) Islay OB 25s (Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Laphroaig) just don't sit right with me. On their own they are very nice and often nicely nuanced whiskys but their price just doesn't seem to give that much in return. All of them are slightly different to what the entry level and 18yos would lead me to expect and none of them seem to match the best IB 25s from roughly the same age group and assumed vintages.

    I like this Caol Ila well enough to recommend a glass if you find it anywhere at a reasonable price but not a full bottle maybe. Less peaty and more hayish than its younger siblings, yet also fruity and quite subtle. I much prefer the 25yo in the Port Askaig series.

  101. Othorion scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Delicious fabric, complex, round, balanced
    • Nose
      the delicate smoke of a barbecue, sweet red apples in caramel, honey and a hint of pineapple
    • Taste
      sweet, decent well-integrated smoke, again caramel, some seaweed and salty sea air, spicy, slightly dry, some pepper
    • Finish
      some fruit, some honey, black pepper and spicy smoke stay pleasingly long

  102. Peaty_Nino scored this whisky 85 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  103. Wtrstrnghlt scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Nose: Full and round Peat. Gentle, but still very active after 25y. Sweet oranges. Some oak.

    Taste: Salty arrival. Starts gentle and sweet. Some salt and pepper. Citrus and oranges.

    Finish: Ashy. Gentle. Oranges.

  104. JimKikke scored this whisky 82 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  105. JimKikke scored this whisky 82 points Member Senior

    Good whisky, but for the price I can imagine a few others that are at least equally as good.
    • Nose
      slightly sour. light and gentle whiffs of peat smoke. citrus. oak, lovely sweet oak. develops very nicely in the glass over time/
    • Taste
      subtle, sophisticated. More wood and smooth smoke. slight bitterness. Picking up some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cumin.
    • Finish
      dry, with a touch more bitternes in the finish. still some smokyness. nice!

  106. spigray scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    n: gentle peat smoke and loads of wood and spices. i found cloves, allspice,
        nutmeg and a hint of aniseed. a touch of mint. there a some sweet citrus notes but i
        found they are far behind the spices and the oak, which is not too loud for its
        age.
        a delicate, subtle but complex nose.
    t:  oily mouthfeel, rather sweet. the peat is singing louder than on the nose.
        lemons and apples. malt candies. and all the spices i had found while nosing.
        it is really very nice and complex
    f:  medium, a little dry now

    90/100

  107. jocmueller scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Color: dirty gold (dyed)

    Nose: a subtle smoky note blows against me, more than in my memory, some oak mingling, caramel, after a few minutes in the glass increasingly sweeter and fruity, not alcoholic at the 43% ABV.

    Mouth: A film of smoke lays on the tongue and spreads pleasant warmth in the oral cavity, here comes the oak to a pleasant sharpness - black pepper - paired with sweetness is added, again caramel, cinnamon, then dry.

    Finish: medium in length, the smoke lingers a bit in the mouth, the oak is the most pronounced on the finish, a slightly bitter taste paired with sweetness remains behind.

    Conclusion: A delicious OA, without much rough edges, despite the price increases of its "DIAGEO brothers" (eg Talisker 25yo) in the last few years itself hardly increased in price and thus with approx. 145 EUR in D now belongs to the "cheap" DIAGEO-OA representatives in this age group. For "Genrefans" sure a purchase.

  108. Sandman scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Grain, apples, pear and peat
    • Taste
      Peat, wood, sweet fruit, honey and some garden herbs
    • Finish
      Long, sweet, little smoke and at the end a bit of fruit.

  109. Shane_IL scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A lovely mature yet still lively dram.
    • Nose
      Cola syrup. Glazed meat. Honeycomb candy. Lemon rind. Herbal peat. Fennel. Vanilla custard. Butterscotch. Salt. Light leather. Bit of an old dusty bookshelf note. Honey Some slight wafting notes of light nuts and tangerines. 
    • Taste
      Sour green apples. Charred wood. Very bitter woody note. Old campfire. Woodspice. Chewy dried apples. Fresh ground coffee. Aniseed. Bit of a sticky figgy sweetness and espresso on the swallow. 
    • Finish
      Sweet sticky figs. Dry Oak. Woodsmoke. Quite a lot of woodspice that sits in the throat. 

  110. ColorOutOfSpace scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  111. lincolnimp scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Loses marks for being a little thin on the palate, otherwise its pretty good.
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  112. lincolnimp scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Good but if it was fatter on the palate I would have scored it higher, the palate was just a little thin.
    • Nose
      Sweet, honeycomb, wood varnish, shoe polish, cola cubes.
    • Taste
      Peaty attack with orange and lemon mixed in with caramel, a little sherry and a touch of lime.
    • Finish
      Long sweet and smooth.

  113. squaadgras scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  114. MrRancho scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    very good, all flavors are well balanced, typical Caol Ila notes
    • Nose
      Pear, pineapple, light smoke, some mint, very light raspberry, some caramel, pepper
    • Taste
      some smoke, sweet pineapple is dominant, sugar, some licorice
    • Finish
      long and sweet-fruity, salty, smoke

  115. Sonett scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  116. JamesJam did not rate this whisky Member Junior

    Hello, I would like to buy this Caol ila 25 years Whisky.
    Is it included the original box?

  117. Fight65 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Great nose, pineapple and fruity notes dominate. Round, full flavor that is a bit dry. Long, dry finish - smoke is increasingly evident. Interesting, complex Caol Ila.
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      88 88

  118. steinrich scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  119. Hvdree scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  120. molar3rd scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Nose: This one certainly feels older: There are some lovely wood notes with oak and leather , sweet peat with vanilla and deep concentrated honey. Stewed fruit: Plum and pear. Demerara sugar The nose is indeed warm and reassuring. May bot be the most complex of noses, but It’s certainly good.

    Palate: Starting sweet. Honey and spice. Giving way to some big peaty notes, to be honest I was expecting the peat to be more subdued than it really is. Seaweed and salt with sweet smoke. It’s a sort of coastal peat – an Islay for sure. Then getting woodier with Polish and dry oak. Pepper and plum.

    Finish : Peat pepper, and spice. lingering smoke and sweet distant plums.

    A very nice Coal Ila indeed. But lacking the exotic fruit notes of older CI I’ve come to like. If we’re talking about wood, it certainly has some, but it’s not the kind of lovely wood you get from a Bunnahabhain 25 for example. Yes, I know the peat is balancing it out, but still. This is rather balanced, and although the peat is stronger than I anticipated, It’s not overpowering the other aromas and flavors. A worthy 25 year old, at a good price (relatively), especially if you’re ordering from the EU and not UK (TWE stocks it for £154) . At any rate, I’d rather shell a few more pounds and buy the Bunnahabhain 25 yo which is much better and feels older and more majestic, at the costs of not being peaty- yes.

    http://whiskyisrael.co.il/2015/02/05/caol-ila-25-yo-ob-review/

     

  121. Wolv scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      93 93

  122. Ciro scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  123. sbosse scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  124. Rom scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    Very melt pineapple nose, smoked meats, peat is fine, a little plum and a little chemical. The palate is well balanced between the four basic flavors. The alcohol is very well integrated and unfolds only in the long final. Good and well done but lacks charm for me, the reduction probably does him harm.

  125. GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      89 89

  126. HunterRomario scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    In addition to the price, it is difficult to say anything, but perhaps because of her age somebody might expect more, but I was not disappointed. Nice whisky.
    • Nose
      Straw, finely sweetened peat, fruit, temperance, saltiness of the seashore, a mint of mint. Everything is pretty smooth, pleasant, no brutality, elegant smell. (87 b)
    • Taste
      Peat, salinity, nuts, spicy flesh. Wood and tannins in the flavor, along with balance, noticeable iodine and smoke. The sweep retreat slowly fades away. (87 b)

  127. stf_92 scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    It's flat, almost bland. Too (bad) diluted ... or bad sample ???

  128. cuhp scored this whisky 75 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Sweet smoke, apples, bananas, vanilla,
      walnuts, wine 
    • Taste
      Sweet smoke, vanilla, licorice,
      salt, wine, dry 
    • Finish
      Sweet smoke, licorice, salt, oak,
      tar, dry 

  129. FedeBosco scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    Nice one, cheap islay 25 years, very nice and complex nose, the taste is lighter than 12y or Moch. The nose changes every five minutes so be careful!
    • Nose
      First: very spicy, seaside, dried apricots after a while, dried fruits, strong liquorice
    • Taste
      Bittersweet, brown sugar, almonds, toasted almonds, watery, smoke, seaweed, light liquorice
    • Finish
      Long, light smoke and light peat, something toasted

  130. addyhd scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  131. granella2003 scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      93 93
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      92 92

  132. granella2003 scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    The nose is sweet and spicy, with notes of dried fruit and sea breeze. The palate is sweet and fruity with a hint of tobacco that gives it a touch of elegance. Great structure, but with a softness as the note of smoke envelops the palate beautifully. Overall is delicately dry, thanks to a long period of aging that has sensibilemente softened. Full-bodied, elegant and harmonious The finish is very long, pleasantly dry and smoky.

  133. granella2003 scored this whisky 92 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      A
      combination of sweet and spicy aromas with hints of candied fruit and salty sea
      air.
    • Taste
      The palate opens sweet and fruity with a fairly bitter in it.
    • Finish
      Long sweet finish drying with attractive notes of smoke and a pleasant aftertaste

  134. cuhp scored this whisky 75 points Expert Senior

    The box says:

    "Sweet, smooth and lightly smoky, Caol Ila 25 year old has an elegant profile that brings to mind the faint yet resolute outline of the distillery itself, silhouetted in the soft moonlight of a still winter`s night."

  135. mmaclean did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    "Introduced in 2010, after cask strength versions in 2004 and 2005, this

    is the first officially-bottled Caol Ila 25yo to be bottled at 43%.

    It`s nice to see growing recognition for this excellent distillery, and

    this is a very welcome addition to the official range, with a rich,

    gentle mouthfeel and restrained, coal-esque phenols."
    TWE

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