Single Malt Archives

The Juice: Caol Ila 12 year old

For more than 100 years small coal-fired “puffers” like the SS Pibroch brought barley, coal and empty casks to the distillery, returning the whisky to the mainland through the strait that divides Islay and Jura, the Sound of Islay – in Gaelic, “Caol Ila” (cull eela). The distillery was founded in 1846, but now 11 men do the work that 32 used to do.

The Notes:

Color: Pale straw
Nose: Citrus, coal smoke, olive oil
Palate: Light sweetness, salt, smoke
Finish: Sweet smoke, slightly sour, coal

The Verdict: 9.0/10

This could quite possibly be "the one". At first, I wasn't expecting much, but was blown away by the quality. This is most likely the result of juxtaposition between presupposed expectation and reality. It is one of the heavier Islays, so be careful if you decide to give this one a go. Caol Ila has cemented its place in the rotation and will be a regular on the bar for years.