Whiskybase

Caol Ila 2003

Overall rating
85.49/100
votes
176
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
The Distillers Edition
Vintage
2003
Bottled
2015
Casktype
Double Matured in Moscatel Cask Wood
Strength
43.0 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 1000 ml
Label
C-si; 2-475
Bottle code
L5252CM000
Barcode
5000281021676
Added on
02 Nov 2015 9:39 pm by Archer
ColoredChillfiltered
Caol Ila 2003
Photo by Rmagbg
Caol Ila 2003
Photo by Nidan
Caol Ila 2003
Photo by Nidan
Caol Ila 2003
Photo by Nidan
Caol Ila 2003
Photo by Nidan

Average value

€ 64,01

Found 29 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 49,99
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25 × in wishlist

176 × member ratings

535 × in collection

Whisky Reviews for Caol Ila 2003

31 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 85.49 points

  1. HammerHead scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    Peaty and sweet, but I've had better drams with this combination. It's quaffable but I like the regular Caol Ila 12 a little more.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Peatsmoke and loads of sweetness like honey, sweet apple and pear. Pleasing but the sweetness could be better integrated. It smells a bit artificial, like fruit syrup has been added to the spirit. Also a bit grainy and a sourish moldy note of wet hay and sawdust.
    • Taste
      82 82
      Peaty smoke, bitter wood and sourness. Peppery with more of the moldy notes from the nose. Some generic sweetness (honey), but I'm having difficulty recognizing specific fruit notes.
    • Finish
      82 82
      Medium length: peaty smokiness, some honied liquorice, generic wood bitterness and again that 'wet' moldy note.

  2. Marko_I did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Tasty, my favorite DE (I like Caol Ila and the Moscatel finish makes it special and interesting), for 55 € OK, quite stable over the vintages.
    • Nose
      Direct comparison 2002 vs. 2003: typical, strong Caol-Ila-smoke, slightly fleshy and medicinal, 2002 slightly fresher, 2003 a little bitter, with honey, banana, sweet white wine, some pepper
    • Taste
      after 5 min in the glass: 2002 slightly sharper, 2003 slightly milder, softer, otherwise no differences: strong smoke, bacon, grilled ash, malty sweetness, cinnamon, grape nut chocolate, white pepper
    • Finish
      both: long, smoke, pepper, dark chocolate, red grape skins

  3. Archer scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    An unassuming classic, I like it very much. Nice balance between smoke / peat / salt on the one hand and fruit on the other.
    • Nose
      Fresh smoke is blowing around the nose. The smoke is flavored with light fruits, making it light and airy rather than heavy and medicated. Peat is included, as well as a fine honey note. The nose quickly gets used to smoke and peat, so that after a while the bright fruits dominate.
    • Taste
      In the beginning with strong peat and a lot of smoke, but still very soft mouthfeel. Nothing bites or scratch here. A malt candy in the mouth. The malt is "sensually restrained". If it was not for smoke and peat, you could almost call it lovely. Red apples and grapes provide balanced sweetness; Cinnamon, anise, sea salt and white pepper give it a pleasant spiciness.
    • Finish
      In the medium long finish it remains smoky for a long time, with traces of cinnamon and coriander.

  4. mer1973 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  5. Steven79 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

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

  6. Archer scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    In contrast to the standard 12yo DE delivers a few more flavors that justify the extra charge.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  7. schengel10 scored this whisky 80 points Connoisseur

    A logical extension of the 12-year-old - with maturing in Moscatel Sherry Casks - annual reprint - a good malt!
    • Nose
      dry woody smoke, sweet, floral, fresh, oak, sour;
    • Taste
      mild sweet onset, smoke, pepper, salt, cold ash, oily, sour vinous note, fruity, complex;
    • Finish
      medium length finish, smoke, oak, slightly bitter; ashen spicy aftertaste;

  8. HW74 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Typical Caol Ila smoke, plus the sweetness of nutmeg. Fits very well, whereby I like the standard 12er better.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  9. Danbog scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

  10. JNuyts scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
      very sweet à la cotton candy, vanilla, grassy, medicinal, iodine, honey, smoke, unripe banana, peat
    • Taste
      85 85
      little pepper, lots of herbs, smoke, peat, less sweets, more ashy, cinnamon, bacon
    • Finish
      82 82
      reasonably short, not complex

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