Caol Ila 1977 Gordon & Macphail

Caol Ila 10 Year Old Single Cask Collection

Let’s stay on Islay for a while and try three Caol Ila head-to-head. We’ll start with a young one: a 10 Year Old, bourbon barrel #309889, from the Austrian independent bottler Single Cask Collection. After the initial alcohol fumes have dissipated, my olfactory organ takes in a big dose of peat smoke and citrus (lemon, peel included). Quite a...

Score 83/100

Caol Ila Connoisseurs Choice 1997

Colour is very light gold with a touch of green. Nose is a touch sour before some aeration. Briny, slightest touch of peat right at the end. Fresh oak flavour, not highly charred at first taste. Smoky. Nice and smoky. Finish is short and green with a touch of saltiness.

Score 82/100

Caol Ila Signatory 1999

This independent bottling from Signatory should satisfy those who enjoy the coastal flavors of Caol Ila, but there are some slight disappointments herein. For comparison, I tried this whisky just after enjoying a dram of the standard Caol Ila 12 yo and found it to be a tamer version of the basic OB. Although it’s bottled at 46%, compared to the...

Score 87/100

Caol ila 8 Year Old Unpeated bottled 2008

Nose: A succulent toffee-mint to accompany lemons and cherries burning on hot coals. Crushed peanuts are sprinkled over melting perfumed wax, before a confectionary fire-blanket of apple-pie, chocolate hob-nobs and fig rolls envelopes the heat and puts out the smoke. Taste: A smooth and luxurious oil massages the palate, with a velvet-like nectar...

Score 93/100