Line Up #19 : Caol Ila Independent Bottlings II, Middle-age Crisis

 18 July 2023. 

 

 

 

The Line Up Project

I continue my journey through the independent bottlings from Caol Ila. Having explored the young ones aged 10 and under, I'm now tackling the older ones aged 11 to 20. Here again, all types of ageing should be represented, as far as possible. The aim is to find constants in the distillery's profile, to find the best maturations and the most trustworthy brands. Are the Caol Ila hallmarks to be found in the extreme variety of expressions? Is it a benchmark, a reference? What does this distillery bring to the world of whisky? 

Elixir Distillers, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Brühler Whiskyhaus, Gordon & MacPhail, La Maison du Whisky, which always partners with Signatory Vintage, and many others, all these illustrious houses with untouchable reputation are proliferating new vintages. Since you can't buy them all, you need to know which ones to choose first, which ones are the most original or the most curious. 

The Tasting

Black Friday 2006 16 yo Bottled 2022 : Every year this special bottling is released on Black Friday by Elixir Distillers. Most of the time it's an undisclosed distillery, but we know this one is Caol Ila. 

Salty breeze, white fruits. Then the peat rises, thick, chalky, iodised, crystalline. Vanilla bean. Speculoos cream. Airy, ethereal. On the palate, walnuts, almonds, coconut and other exotic fruits, spices measured out to perfection. Long, bewitching finish. Score: 89

Caol Ila 2010 The Single Malts of Scotland 12 yo : An entirely Sherry cask-aged from The Single Malts of Scotland, Elixir Distillers' prestige range. 

Leather, quince jam, peat, chestnut cream, chocolate. Gooseberries, raspberries. Woody palate, tinder, maple syrup, apricots, fairly strong spices, powerful and carbonated finish. Nutmeg. Score : 89

Caol Ila 13 yo Restaurant Bahnsteig 1 : an exceptional bottling in support of a highly reputed restaurant, and finished in a Madeira cask, a sweet wine of Portuguese origin.
Invasive red fruits with a lovely smoky background. Pomegranate, blackberry and blackcurrant. Pinch of salt. Smooth and mellow on the palate, mirabelle pulp, followed by well-managed spices. Long carbonated finish with ashes, soot, blueberries. Bark. Nutmeg. Score: 89

 

 

 

 

 

Caol Ila 2009 Vulcan 12 yo : This time a classic maturation in a Bourbon cask, for a Single Cask from a little-known company. 

Light breeze, sea breeze, vanilla and lemon. Thick smoke, heavy peat. On the palate, lemon zest and lychee, spices under control, fairly long finish, explosive, woody, shortbread, hazelnut. Score: 88

 

Caol Ila 2005 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 15 yo  : Another first-fill Sherry cask, but this time less invasive, from the highly prestigious company Gordon & MacPhail. 

Genoise and smoke. Lemon pulp. Delicate iodine. Greengages and pears. On the palate, prunes and mashed quinces. Light spices. Nutmeg. Long finish, delicately lemony and iodised, with a hint of cereal. Almonds and shortbread. Woody bitterness. Score : 89

SMWS 2006 53.406 Exotic, dark and medicinal 15 yo : The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is also highly prestigious. This bottling, finished in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask, caused quite a stir when it was released.

Smoked cherries. Black earth, soot. Cranberries, gooseberries. Very fruity palate, fermented red fruits, crimson, powerful spices, nutmeg. Atomic finish, wood and chestnut. Oak leaf. Score: 89

Caol Ila 2009 North Star 11 yo : North Star Spirits is a recent but highly reputable trading company. Here we have an expression entirely matured in an Oloroso Sherry cask. 

Straight away very deep, very dark. Leafy, spicy, woody. Moderate grainy smoke. Salted butter caramel. Coffee with a square of dark chocolate. Very unctuous on the palate, fondant, liquorice stick. Light spices. Very long and powerful finish, lignite, heather, humus. Score. 90

Caol Ila1996 Artist #2 Over 15 yo : Each year, the Artist range brings together top quality bottlings, thanks to a partnership between La Maison du Whisky and Signatory Vintage. Here an ageing in a Bourbon cask

Very airy nose, white fruits and iodine, salt crystals, vaporous lemon. Cereals, ripe wheat. Sea breeze. Mirabelle and white plums on the palate, calm spices, light peat. Vanilla blossom. Very long, powerful finish with green apple and cinnamon. Score: 90

Caol Ila 2009 The Single Malts of Scotland 11 yo : Another product from The Single Malts of Scotland, but this time matured in a Bourbon cask. 

Intense iodine, sea salt, sea breeze. White fruits, grapes and greengages. wisp of ashy smoke. Slightly lemony on the palate, then spicy. Meringue. Long, explosive finish, sandy earth, marrons glacés. Score: 88

Caol Ila 2006 Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength 11 yo : a second Gordon & MacPhail and another ageing in a sherry cask. 

Velvety, iodised nose, leather and dates. Light dusty smoke. American tobacco. Quite fruity on the palate, but also peaty. Pears and herbs. Well-managed spices. Long, charred, maritime finish. Oysters and vergeoise. Score: 90

What I gain from it

• As it's getting older, Caol Ila's profile changes. Or rather, it evolves. The iodine and peat become lighter, even evanescent, and I could focus on the smoke nuances, which are still very intense and deep. There's soot, burnt wood and ash. 
  

• We're much more into subtlety and depth, so ageing in Sherry cask suits it better. Bourbon cask ageing doesn't produce bad results, but it highlights the distillate a little more straightforwardly, without the nuances. I think it loses something. Similarly, maturing in wine casks can denature the distillate. This produces results that are too sweet, which once again hides the nuances.  
  

• This is still a first-class distillery. Smoother, wiser, it is gaining in complexity and subtlety. Compared to the iodine-laden 5-year-olds, it feels like a different brand. But it's the same spirit, transfigured by the years. I can't think of any other juice that  evolves so much in just ten years, apart from Lagavulin, which has a similar profile.
  

Conclusion

The biggest trading companies are fond of Caol Ila's various faces, and that's hardly surprising. It's an easy distillate to obtain, and a guarantee of quality. Without being very peaty, it has its own personality, but also the complexity of the great whisky names. At middle age, Caol Ila gives a result that is both moderate and full of character. It is neither too light nor too violent, it will appeal to everyone.  

All pictures were taken on the distillery site.

Caol Ila 1996 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 25 yo

 

 

 

59,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Within the prestigious Connoisseurs Choice range, which brings together sometimes very old vintages, the Cask Strength are of course the most interesting. They represent only part of the collection, which is most often reduced. Here we have a 25 year old Caol Ila, which grew in a first fill Sherry cask, before being split into 555 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fermented cherries, old library, then everything falls into place, varnished noble wood, polish, melted butter, very light smoke. Mistletoe, vegetable moss, wet bark, caramel drizzle. Warm liquorice, spongy earth. Soot drops. Ripe quinces. After a while the smoke becomes more significant, thick mist. Angelica, rhubarb. Lingonberries. Honeyed and silky on the palate, ripe banana and white plum, well-managed spices, nutmeg, cumin, cloves, fresh lemon. Very long and dynamic finish, softened by age but still vigorous, wood wax, apricots and raisins, damp earth, charcoal, hot chestnuts. Cola. Fig.

 

In Short, 

Superb Caol Ila, age only brings it qualities. The peat is light but the smoke is there. The very subtle nose offers wonderful nuances, and the finish is fantastic. You can still find it by looking carefully. Of course the price is high but it’s the market now.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Moses Concas - Human Revolution

Line Up #18 : Caol Ila Independent Bottlings I, youngsters and damsels

16 Juine 2023. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Line Up Project

With nearly 4 million litres of pure alcohol per year, Caol Ila is by far the most productive distillery in Islay. Since the island’s products are highly sought after, it is not difficult to get rid of the surplus by selling it to independent bottlers. Caol Ila is certainly the distillery that offers the most independent bottlings in the whisky world. Young, old, sherry, bourbon, wine, everything is represented. In 2022 alone, more than 300 different bottlings recorded on Whiskybase, almost all independent. In this extreme variety, is the quality lost? Are there any benchmarks, constants?

 

 

 

 

This is why I decided to try all the Caol Ila IB in my possession. As they are easy to find, cheaper than normal, obviously I have many, probably too many. An opportunity to do some cleaning and to have an overview of what this distillery does. Three steps, first the young bottles, 10 years and under, then the middle-aged, then the aged. There are of course important differences between the three types of age, in my humble opinion.

 

 

 

 

The Tasting

Caol Ila 2011 Whisky Live Paris 10 yo : Special bottling for the Whisky Live Paris 2021, distributed by La Maison du Whisky, but coming from the Signatory Vintage casks.
Very fruity, light peat, plum and banana, vanilla. Biscuit, fine dust, ethereal iodine. Soft and round palate, Mirabelle, light spices, honey and milk. Finish rather long and oaky. Cola. Score : 86

 

Caol Ila 2012 Càrn Mor Strictly Limited 8 yo :Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, formerly known as Morrison & MacKay, is a Scottish bottler, little known but highly respected.
Sweet sherry, rather sticky, raisins, blackcurrant and cranberries. Nuts, undergrowth, smoked meat. On the palate, hazelnut and red fruits, intense spices, gooseberries and pomegranate. Long and juicy finish, crushed strawberries, oak bark.  Score : 88

Caol Ila 2012 Thompson Bros. 9 yo : Another Scottish bottler, more recent but which we hear a little more about.
Nice grainy smoke, ashtray. The tide, some white fruits. Fresh fish. Velvety palate, rare fruits, thick peat, strong spices. Explosive and long finish, iodine, hazelnuts, cola. Score : 87

 

Caol Ila 2012 A Dream of Scotland 10 yo : German bottler, very famous for its bold finishes and colourful labels.
Rather intense, but pleasant winey hints. Spellbinding ash smoke, crunchy red fruits. Waves of iodine, gooseberries. Red wine on the palate, intense spices, cloves, cumin. Explosive and long finish, charcoal, damp earth, humus. Soot. Score : 88

 

 

 

 

Caol Ila 2011 The Old Friends 9 yo : Another German bottler, confidential, but reputable.
Thick smoke, ashtray, hot asphalt. Heather, wood, ferns. Melted butter, caramel nuts. Very silky mouth, honey and spices, intense wood. Very powerful and long finish, charcoal, chestnuts and figs. Score : 89 

Caol Ila 2015 Claxton's Exclusives 6 yo : English bottler still little known.
Intense iodine, tide, seaweed, kelp. Oyster juice, sea urchins, whelk, boutargues. Oily palate, beeswax, vanilla, thick peat, intense spices. Long and explosive finish, like a falling wave. Sea foam. Lemon. Ripe wheat. Score : 88

 

Caol Ila 2011 Scottish Roadsign Edition N°13 9 yo :German bottler, very confidential this one, little reputation.
The iodine is milder, more pleasant, the smoke dustier. Engaging tide. White plum not very ripe, limestone. Quite good palate, vanilla drizzle, and marine fragrances. Strong spices. Powerful and iodized finish. Green tea. Score : 85 

Caol Ila 2010 Cask Strength Collection 9 yo c. 316658 : Signatory Vintage is an excellent Scottish bottler, its reputation is well established.
Rich and very complex nose, nuts, pine needles, wood resin, melting caramel, fudge, forest fragrances. Very sweet and pleasant palate, honey and maple syrup, tamed spices. Violent finish, just the right amount, coal, bark, cola. Cooked apple. Score : 89 

Caol Ila 2010 Cask Strength Collection 10 yo c. 316643 : Even richer and more complex nose, raisins, red fruits, nuts, leather, blood orange, coniferous forest. Dried banana. Soft toffee. Silky, honeyed, spicy palate. Wood, nutmeg, cumin, black pepper. Long and explosive finish without being aggressive. Cola, heather, smoked tea, cloves. Score : 89 

Caol Ila 2010 Cask Strength Collection 9 yo c. 316648 : Fruitier nose, apricot jam, soft caramel, resin. Brugnon. Smoke in the background but well present. On the palate silk and honey, then spices, cumin, cloves, nice balance. Powerful finish but less fruity, coal and iodine, long and calcareous. Almonds. Score : 89 

Caol Ila 2012 Asta Morris 7 yo : Belgian bottler this time, known and famous, but less and less focused on whisky.
Smoke mixed with sherry, apricots and sticky peat. Heather, young wood, a clearing in the forest. Light iodine. Very silky palate, barely some spices, pungent honey, plums, blood oranges. The spices become strong little by little. Long and powerful finish, cola, dried apricots. On the beach, whipped by waves and salt. Lemon. Score : 89

What I gain from it

• First of all it's a very good distillery, whose flavours are preserved despite the different maturations. Very iodized, coastal, peaty, spicy, long and maritime finish. With sherry and wine we have woody fragrances, dried fruits, a nice balance.
  
• For young Caol Ila, I recommend aging in Bourbon barrels. It is not that the other casks give a bad result, not at all, but the young Caol Ila are very powerful and iodized, I find it a shame to soften it with sherry or wine.
  

 

 

 

• Sometimes, I notice that the casks are beautifully crafted, to hide the youth of the product, and this works very well, particularly with Signatory Vintage. At other times, the cask is a little too invasive, and this hides the distillate, despite a pleasant result, as with A Dream of Scotland. Finally, it happens that the youthfulness is asserted and assumed, and this can produce something very impressive if you like the profile, as with Claxton's.
  
• Overall, the notes do not exceed 89, it remains a young distillate, which can give very good stuff, but nothing overwhelming. Below 88, we can estimate that the purchase is not worth it, especially with today’s prices.
   

 

 

 

Conclusion

Caol Ila is a distillery that lives very well its youth. It has a certain energy, without being too impetuous, it has its subtleties too. It keeps its character in most agings (well, with A Dream of Scotland, it’s special!), it has several facets depending on the casks that welcome it, powerful and coastal with bourbon, foresty and fruity with sherry. It suits everywhere, it can fulfill all desires, all experiments. This is why we find so many young Caol Ila on the market. Some distillates need a certain age to be good, others need the influence of sherry. This is not the case with Caol Ila, provided you enjoy the peat kick, of course. This allows independent bottlers to offer successful products at a reasonable price, so Caol Ila is one of the few reputable distilleries that remain more or less affordable. 

It is the best way to test an independent bottler, or to dare an original purchase. You will not be disappointed with this distillery. Out of 11 expressions, only one did not live up to the expectations. That is a reference we can count on. 

All pictures were taken on the distillery site.

William Larue Weller 2008 Limited Edition Barrel Proof 12 yo

 

 

 

67,25°

Distillery : Buffalo Trace - Kentucky

New Charred White American Oak Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

One of the oldest and most productive distilleries on the American continent, Buffalo Trace, has an impressive number of brands. Every year since 2000, the most prestigious ones have been the subject of a special release. This is the BTAC, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. William Larue Weller is part of this illustrious collection, it was excluded from it only in 2004. This brand is special because it produces a Bourbon marked by wheat, one of the three cereals used to make the product (corn, wheat, malted barley). The bottlings reserved for the BTAC are Full Barrel Proof, Uncut & Unfiltered, that is to say the liquid is unchanged after distillation. Thanks to the product roadmap, I know which barrels have been used, how long they have been charred (55 seconds), and in which warehouses they have stayed (I & C). 73% of the original liquid having been evaporated, it must not remain enough to make many bottles, however I do not know the exact number.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, I find more corn than wheat, with a nice drop of molasses that mingles with melting caramel, milk chocolate, crispy cereals and a noble and elegant woodiness. Hot chestnuts, acacia honey, pine needles. On the palate, the wood becomes prominent, with prune, grains of rye, cooked apples. Various spices, from paprika to nutmeg, through pepper and cinnamon. The finish is long, violent but well integrated, undergrowth, heather, bay leaf, caramel and resin. Eucalyptus.

 

In Short, 

A product of great refinement, and a magnificent length in mouth. A delight for the taste buds. It seems that the release price is extremely interesting (99 dollars), on the other hand, it is sold out within a fraction of second, and the second market is relentless. Now is the time to resell your cryptocurrency.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jessta James - Hell's Coming With Me

Weller 12 yo The Original Wheated Bourbon

 

 

 

45°

Distillery : Buffalo Trace -Kentucky

New Charred American White Oak Barrels

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Straight Bourbon Whiskey 

Launched in 2000

Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the 19th century, William Larue Weller was a whiskey maker who first came up with the idea of replacing rye with wheat in Bourbon mashbill. The cereal mainly used remains corn, otherwise it is not Bourbon, but wheat is the 2nd cereal, up to 15-20%. It is more or less this recipe that was used in the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery, opened in 1935 and closed in 1992, led by the famous Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle, who however never distilled a single Barrel by himself. The Weller name was acquired by the Sazerac company in 1999, and they immediately used it to launch the Weller 12 yo (or WL Weller 12 yo, the name changes on the label depending on the year), the first Batches of which contain juice distilled in Stitzel-Weller. Subsequently, the distillery used was Bernheim, then, from 2011, Buffalo Trace, one of the oldest on the continent. The Weller 12 yo remains an element of the distillery's Core Range, but the public's enthusiasm is such that each Batch is sold out in a blink of an eye.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very interesting, so original that I can hardly describe it, vanilla and cloves, honey and dry earth, shovelfuls of hay, rye and wheat, a drop of molasses, syrupy at times, caramel coming out of the pan. It's very grainy, and both velvety and mellow, but you can also smell the bitterness of braised wood, resin, and perhaps chestnut cream. After that, the palate is a little weak, grilled corn, grains of rice, and still quite spicy. The finish is not bad, quite long, relatively solid, on elderberry and shortbread biscuit. White chocolate. Millet.

 

In Short, 

A captivating nose, really original, but then a bit flat and watery mouth. It's O.K. for an everyday dram, but the incredible hype around this thing made me expect better. The outlet price is very affordable actually, but it is sold out within minutes, and the secondary market prices are delusional, so if you can't find it at the outlet price, like 99,99% of the pupulation, I suggest you forget it.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jackie Venson - Rollin'on

Ben Nevis 1990 La Première Fois Especially Bottled for the Velier 70th Anniversary 26 yo

 

 

 

60,5°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Velier is a legendary italian trading company, specialised in Rum, created in 1947. They started to work with Signatory Vintage in 1990, because Andrew Symington wanted to age whisky in Rum casks, which was quite bold at that time. The collaboration was fruitful and in 2017, Andrew Symington bottled this Ben Nevis especially for the 70th Velier Anniversary. He chose this one since it was distilled on the year they began working together. He called it "La Première fois" (in french?) in remembrance of the first time he and Luca Gargano, the owner of Velier, met. Besides, the bottling is subtitled "G Family", G means Gargano for sure. There is something like a beautiful bromance here. It was released in 644 bottles reserved for the italian market, there is even a little text in italian on the back label, so cute. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very woody at first, freshly cut young wood, I feel like being inside the wood, emerging from the veins. Then the fruits settle. The Sherry is not intrusive, it's more of yellow peach, very ripe apricot, with some exotic fruits, papayas and bananas, maybe a hint of pineapple. An ounce of peat, but barely noticeable, slightly cereal and ethereal length, almost iodized, a field of wheat, dry hay. On the palate, the cereals stand out, there is vanilla, then back to exotic fruits, married with various spices, ginger, cloves and pepper, a touch of cinnamon. Really strong finish, you have to add water, and it becomes much nicer, quite long, almost farmy, even sweet, pastry cream and hot chestnuts. Olives.

 

In Short, 

A good Ben Nevis, but not flawless. The finish is a bit aggressive, and must be soothed with water. The spices are strong too. All in all it's still a very nice dram, but does it deserves the price it is sold? As for an answer, we can see that some bottles are still on sale, six years after the release. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Electric Guest - Troubleman

Penderyn 2010 Zn09 Série Samouraï 12 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

2nd Fill Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit 

Limired Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Zero Nine Spirits, is a new French bottler, founded in 2022. And this Penderyn is their very first whisky, as they mostly do Armagnac and Rum. It was distilled in a Faraday still, which is a still with a single fractionating column, so that it makes a purer alcohol. Ageing was in a single second-fill Bourbon cask, in order to leave the spotlight to the distillate. Only 120 bottles were produced, almost all sold before bottling, thanks to a well-oiled reservation system. This is the 6th of the Samurai Series, that's why you can see a samouraï drawn on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fruity nose at first, on juicy pear, white peach, mirabelle. It's mellow and sweet, vanilla mousse, candied lemon, whipped cream, before the more typical elements of the distillery appear, varnished wood, chestnut bogue, shavings, black earth. On the palate, the fruits return, white plum, apricot and yellow apple, but also cereals, muesli and dried fruits, with very well-managed spices, pepper and ginger. Long finish, just the right amount of explosion, charcoal and terracotta, candied quinces, angelica, cloves.

 

In Short, 

The nose and the finish are really subtle, it's very fruity and a little floral, with a finesse rarely seen in the world of whisky. The price is a bit high, especially for a 50 cl bottle, but it's a must have if you like this distillery even a bit. It can still be found on some french sites, at more or less the same price as the outlet one.

Score: 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Bomba Estéreo - El Alma y el Cuerpo

Springbank 1996 Whisky Sponge A Special Edition 26 yo

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This bottling has already caused a lot of fuss among enlightened enthusiasts, and I bet that it will be one of the best whiskies of the year. Whisky Sponge hit hard with this Springbank totally infused in Sherry for 26 years and released into the wild in the form of 365 bottles. These were sold out within hours (minutes?) despite the prohibitive price.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Incredible richness of Sherry. At first, the nose is very sweet, on candied fruits, apricots, cherries, clementines, kumquats, elegant oak, with a hint of molasses, charcoal and light peat, like a cloud, then it gradually balances out, on fruit paste, leather, cranberries, marrons glacés. On the palate, it's more red fruits, from raspberry to blueberry, forest returns, undergrowth and leaves, the spices rise, cloves, cardamom, cumin, until a finish that breaks everything, but gently, without aggressiveness, a bit syrupy, mostly woody, with hazelnuts and acorns, plum jam, pinecone. Nutmeg. It's very long, it settles slowly. Black tea at the end.

 

In Short, 

The power and robustness of the Springbank profile blends perfectly with a very intense Sherry. Admittedly, it is difficult to find the distiller's hallmarks, but it is so excellent that I didn't pay attention to that. It is a unique piece, a work of art. To purchase absolutely if you can afford it, beware the prices on the second market are devastating, but after all, does your wife really need her car?

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cymande - Dove

Caol Ila 2013 AK Scotch Whisky Collection Feuillettes

 

 

 

49°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Hogshead and "Feuillettes" Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Naguelann 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

In Saint-Malo, Brittany, Lenaïck Lemaître created Naguelann, his own distillery. At the same time, he began bottling Scotch whiskies by himself, which he left to marinate in casks he made himself too. Here are barrels that he named Feuillettes, tiny ones which contain no more than 100 liters. This Caol Ila distillate stayed there for some time after undergoing a first maturation in a Hogshead.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Ashes and coal, the casks have been so toasted that they somewhat mask the peat. Soot, but also liquorice, forest berries, ferns. Wet wood. And after a while, if you search carefully, some tasty white fruits, vanilla hints. Honey and corn. On the palate, the peat comes back, thick, heather, dark chocolate, various and intense spices, nutmeg, cardamom. Dried bananas, dates. Fairly good, long finish, on chestnut cream, crushed almonds, undergrowth. A few nuts, more charcoal, earth, well-hidden red fruits.

 

In Short, 

Interesting experience, which offers various flavours, on chocolate, dried fruits, red fruits, and some forest fragrances. But I found the influence of the cask too strong, not allowing the distillate to express itself. Anyway, this bottling seems to have been sold out for a while, and I have no idea how much it cost.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Chet Faker - No Diggity

Caol Ila 13 yo Restaurant Bahnsteig 1

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Madeira Cask Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Unlike most Brühler Whiskyhaus' bottlings from Scotland, this one does not belong to the A Dream of Scotland range. This is a Charity Bottling for the benefit of Restaurant Bahnsteig 1 located in Mayschoss in Germany, which serves traditional German food. It's a 1st Fill Madeira Cask Finish, but we don't know which was the first maturation, Bourbon certainly. 354 bottles were crafted, undoubtedly from a Single Cask, since it is written without the plural on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Salty freshness typical of the distillery, barley sugar, beautiful ashy smoke. We are in familiar territory. It's very sweet, molasses, marzipan, chestnut cream. Mirabelles and greengages. Blackberries, cherries, which become prominent on the palate, with a nice woodiness, then spices, nutmeg, cumin, cardamom. Dates, chocolate. Undergrowth, heather. Fairly long finish, where the nutmeg stands out, a bit of honey, soft caramel, soy milk. Nut.

 

In Short, 

Madeira is heavier than wine, but less than Port. Less sweet too. The result is pleasant, without hiding the distillery's hallmarks. Unfortunately, this little thing is sold out, and the price on the secondary market is excessive.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Alex G - Salt

Caol Ila 2009 Vulcan 12 yo

 

 

 

56,6°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Platinum Cask

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Platinum Cask is an English trading company that seems particularly interested in Greek mythology. After a Mythical Creatures series, they are launching The Olympians, a range of 12 Single Cask bottlings, each of which represents a Greek god. This one is a 12-year-old Caol Ila distilled in 2009, evoking Vulcan. The cask type is not revealed, but it can only be a Bourbon. 333 bottles are on sale, all in Cask Strength, however we do not know if there was chill filtration or if dyes were added, but it is unlikely. The bottle is illustrated with a depiction of Vulcan by Susan Haseman.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite mild, very pleasant iodine, combined with lemon. Thick, hazy smoke. Orchard fruits, apples and pears, but far behind. It gradually opens to grapefruit, white grapes. Maybe some exotic fruits, barely noticeable. On the palate, rather vanilla, white chocolate, good piles of peat of course. Spices not too strong, nutmeg, cloves, slight woody bitterness. Fairly long, powerful, mineral finish, on crushed almonds, hazelnuts. Peanuts, and a pinch of salt. Shortbread.

 

In Short, 

A fairly simple Caol Ila aged in a Bourbon cask, but well crafted, with nice thick smoke, and some discreet fruits. To be reserved for fans, including myself, especially since the price is attractive.

Score :88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Violent Femmes - Add it up

Black Friday 2006 16 yo Bottled 2022

 

 

 

53,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Oak Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Every year since 2017 Elixir Distillers launches a special bottling for Black Friday, available only on their site The Whisky Exchange, which no longer delivers to France unfortunately (sob). This year, it is written on the back label that it is a 16 year old Caol Ila, and the number of bottles is 2000. The Whisky Exchange blog informs us that it is a Cask Strength distilled in 2006, but nothing on the origin of the casks (I suspect Bourbon), nothing about cold filtration or dyes either. It is true that I have never seen a whisky from Elixir Distillers cold filtered and coloured, but I would have preferred more transparency.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nice ashy smoke, sticky, with coal and soot. Mineral chips, quartz, granite and slate. In the background, fruits give mellowness to the whole. Syrupy caramel, peach juice, clementine, green apple. Nice refreshing iodine. Adding water brings out the liquorice. Creamy vanilla. On the palate, peat and iodine with honey, and then spices, cumin, nutmeg, cloves. Damp wood, mustard, grilled meat. Long and quite powerful finish, at the same time very peaty, mineral, a bit metallic, bark, resin, charcoal, heather, rich soil. Roasted chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

This is a very good Caol Ila, the distillate is hardly disturbed by the influence of the cask, which gives a nice fruitiness. Both mellow and well peated, it made me think of a Port Askaig, but older, wiser. The release price was right, now that it's sold out it's obviously more complicated.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Om - State of No Return

Springbank 11 yo Cadenhead Original Collection

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

 

The Mitchell family owning the trading company William Cadenhead Limited since 1972, we cannot say that this bottling is really independent. It makes me wonder why the people at the distillery chose to release it via Cadenhead, and not as an Original Bottling. One more year and that could be the new Batch of the 12 yo Cask Strength. It's not as if Springbank had plenty of casks not to know what to do with. For this one in any case, the maturation is totally in Bourbon barrels, which number we do not know, and neither the number of bottles filled.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

I immediately feel the influence of Bourbon, with buttered bread, lemon cream, white fruits, mirabelles, greengages, even exotic, mashed banana, passion fruit. It's woody, vanilla, applesauce, pastry cream. On the palate, more cereal, wheat and barley, rye, but still with a sweet touch, genoise and mille-feuilles. The spices are there, very pleasant, until the finish, quite long, but not extremely powerful, vanilla and beaten butter, liquorice juice, charcoal and earth.

 

In Short, 

It is important to say that I tasted it blind, and I had a hard time recognizing the distillery. I found it very good nonetheless. But when you know it's a Springbank, it's disappointing, because the markers are very discreet, to say the least. This is perhaps the reason why they preferred to release it via Cadenhead, the influence of Bourbon was beginning to stifle the distillate, it was necessary to bottle it as soon as possible. That said, let's be clear, a disappointing Springbank, it's still better than the majority of Single Malts today. It's pastry, fruity, with a very slight hint of smoke. But then, even at the outlet price, it's too expensive for a Springbank that doesn't look like a Springbank.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Julie Byrne - Summer Glass

Springbank 11 yo Local Barley 2022

 

 

 

55,1°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown 

55% Sherry, 35% Bourbon and 10% Rum Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This is already the eighth edition of Springbank Local Barley, if we forget the very old ones that came out in the 1990s, and until 2001. It is now a classic that is unleashing the market and driving fans crazy. For this one, Belgravia barley was used, grown on the Glencraigs farm, located 4 km from the distillery. Then the distillation took place following traditional methods in May 2011, and the bottling in December 2022, 11 years and 7 months later. This time, a few barrels of Rum were used, it's the first time I think. 15,000 bottles were produced, and sold from February 2023 all over the world.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very creamy, on buttered bread, peanut butter, knob of butter, frangipane. Then it's the farm, the hay, the stable, the whitewash. Rain on dry land that has just been plowed. Vanilla, mirabelle. Maple syrup. Grilled corn. Adding water makes it more crowdable, and I don't know if that's a good thing. Cut straw. Some medicinal touches, on turpentine. Chopped flowers. Smoke from a campfire in the distance. Pumpkin, butternut. Smell of frightened cattle. On the palate, it is first very delicate, and the lemon stands out, then quite strong but suitable spices, cumin, nutmeg, thyme. We feel the sweetness of rum, rose water, loukoum Finally the straw comes back with beaten butter and some almonds. Slightly bitter oak. Long and violent finish, earthy, an ounce of charcoal, cane syrup, pastry cream. Chantilly. Egg yolk. Acacia honey.

 

In Short, 

What can we say about it that hasn't already been told? It's not only very good, it's totally original, it's also shaking up the world of whisky. The notions of terroir, of local production, are revolutionary in an increasingly globalized industry. Therefore, it is something unique. It's not extremely complex, but it's incredibly radical. You have to try to get it at the outlet price, even if it's very difficult. On the second market, the prices are just crazy, it has become an object of speculation for people who are not at all interested in whisky.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lankum - Go Dig My Grave