Caol Ila 12-year-old

Overall rating
84.00/100
votes
15
Whiskybase ID
WB85030
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Islay Single Malt Whisky
Bottled
03.09.2015
Stated Age
12 years old
Strength
43.0 % Vol.
Size
1000 ml
Bottle code
L5246CM000
Barcode
5000281019390
Added on
25 jul 2016 7:01 pm by SAND
ColoredChillfiltered
Overall rating
84.00/100
votes
15

Average value

€ 49.95

Whisky reviews for Caol Ila 12-year-old

2 users have left 2 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 84.00 points.

Read the reviews
  1. glen efze scored this whisky 79 points Expert Senior

    The original distillery bottling from Caol Ila, bottled at 12 years of age and a weak 43.0% vol .. Caol Ila is a legend among Islay whiskys. Here I have a version from the 1l Travel Retail bottling.

    Color etc. are obsolete - we are at the Diageo core range. After all, it is whisky that can shine with many independent bottlers. Will the standard bottling from the core range also succeed - contrary to expectations?
    • Nose
      The typical ashy smoke of Caol Ila is present in the aroma. A nice smoke, much cleaner than its competitors on the south coast. But why is this beautiful smoke so much warmer and deeper among the independents? In the background there are disturbing notes that are unclean and contain solvents.
    • Taste
      In the taste, the typical citrus notes of Caol Ila and the ashiness of the smoke come. But there is also a rotting, messy, lazy component. This is much less pronounced in many independent bottlings that clearly come from the same distillery. This bottling has a distinctive note of colored sludge that is present in both the aroma and the taste. This significantly reduces the rating.

      The color sludge becomes a little milder when the bottle is open longer, but still remains present. the entire aroma suffers from the bottling strength of 43% vol., a little more alcohol could bring stronger notes, which determine the characteristics of martitim-smoky whiskys.
    • Finish
      In the aftermath, there are rather worn wood notes. Here too, many independents are ahead. Diageo is massively careless in branding, it seems that the better kegs are being sold and inferior kegs are being filled into the standard range.

      The whisky is smoky and straight - but it has notes that are not primarily dirty and Islay style, but rather tend towards the wrong notes. Associations of colored sludge leave the standard product far behind some independent Caol Ilas. Pity!

      Caol Ila is the largest distillery on Islay and the whiskys are now among the celebrated - and therefore massively overpriced - whiskys at some independent bottlers. Then why is the standard product so little?

      Due to the smoke, the whisky has aspects that also make it interesting for the more experienced connoisseur. But to be honest, it is mainly useful as a hardener at the end of a set of good whiskys. And that is pathetic, because the distillery can clearly do more! Shame on you, Diageo!

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