Caol Ila 1990 Whiskyland Chapter Twenty-Eight 35 yo

 

 

 

44,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm 

 

 

 

The truly legendary Caol Ilas are those from the early 1980s, but I’m certainly not going to turn this one down either, distilled in 1990 and matured for 35 long years in a refill hogshead, before being bottled in a run of 226 bottles. With this new range, named Whiskyland and launched in 2024, Angus MacRaild and Iain MacClune, founders of Decadent Drinks, are truly working wonders. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is quite powerful given the age of the whisky – the first surprise. It’s medicinal, fuel oil and kerosene, beautifully balanced by coastal, cliff-like and quartz notes, along with airy iodine, there’s still a tremendous amount of character – the second surprise. Shades of citrus, a very light trace of vanilla, gravel, the cask seems to have left very little of its mark – the third surprise. On the palate, it’s the opposite, thick honey, pulpy fruit, with a touch of exoticism, banana, pineapple, white peaches, mirabelle plums and very ripe yellow plums, the peat is barely detectable, the spices very subtle, it’s incredible. A massive, endless finish, candied lemon, sea spray, Breton biscuits, olive oil, crème brûlée, a drop of tar, mille-feuilles. 

 

In Short, 

It’s absolutely insane, one of the best Caol Ilas I’ve ever tasted, and certainly the one that best represents the distillery. It has it all, the distillery’s pure character with its coastal notes, a peat that’s fiercely intense and uncompromising, but also beautifully integrated fruit and magnificent nuances. Truly a piece of history, probably better than the few Caol Ilas from the 1980s that I’ve tasted. As for the price, it’s commensurate with the exceptional character of the whisky, boundless. 

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                  Eivør - Healer

Caol Ila 2007 A Single Cask Collection : Crafted in Cask 18 yo

 

 

 

48,6°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Hogshead and Moscatel Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Also part of the Crafted in Cask collection launched in 2025, which comprises around twenty bottlings, this Caol Ila, having spent approximately 15 years in a hogshead, followed by at least three years in a cask of Moscatel, a sweet wine produced on the Iberian Peninsula, has yielded only 78 bottles. Within this range, also known as Odyssey, all the products have undergone a finishing process of at least three years in a variety of casks. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The pairing of the fruity Moscatel and Caol Ila-style peat is a success. A sooty smokiness with dried apricots, redcurrant jam, fresh figs, tannins, a few grains of salt, fragrant herbs. Marinated shellfish. On the palate, Amarena cherries, damson plums, it is as smooth as honey, but just a touch light. Soaked wood, intense spices, cloves, black pepper. A fairly long, powerful finish, with notes of ash, charcoal, burnt rubber, fermented fruit, a hint of sea spray. Black tea. 

 

In Short, 

I really liked this one, bearing in mind that it’s very different from the Caol Ila Distillers Edition, which is also finished in Moscatel. But that must be white Moscatel, whereas this one is clearly influenced by red Moscatel. It’s much richer, deeper and more intense. And it goes very well with the Caol Ila peat, full of soot, charcoal and sea spray. On the other hand, the price is off-putting, it seemed to me, but that’s no doubt because of the very small number of bottles produced. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Devil Electric - Hypnotica

Caol Ila 2013 The Single Malts of Scotland Small Batch 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Rum Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm 

 

 

 

Among the first batch of the Small Batch sub-range is this Caol Ila, which has spent 12 years in four refill rum barrels. To be honest, I'm not a fan of rum barrel ageing, but these are refill ones, and I trust the team at Elixir Distillers. What's more, it has been selected by La Maison du Whisky for an exclusive sale in France. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick smoke, but as if frozen in icing sugar, roasted pineapple, lime slices, almond paste, juicy white grapes, persimmons, mirabelle plums. Honey and varnished wood, traces of tar, iodine and limestone, coarse sea salt and oysters. Beautiful fullness. On the palate, candied vanilla, treacle, brown sugar, rose Turkish delight, slightly subdued spices, grey pepper, fragments of dried peat, a touch of exotic fruit. A suitably long finish, full of salt and soot, green seaweed, salted butter caramel, blond tobacco, crushed hazelnuts, the warmth of a grog.

 

In Short, 

I must say that the tropical notes of rum blend very well with the distillery's maritime profile. It is full of exotic fruits, cane sugar, barley sugar, and peat emerges at times from behind. The smoke is like a veil that must be overcome to experience all the flavours. Unfortunately, the price is a little high, but it is still very enjoyable.   

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ebon Veil - The House on Gallows Hill

Caol Ila 2012 Decadent Drams 13 yo

 

 

 

53,1°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Caol Ila and sherry generally go well together. Here we have a 13-year-old whisky that has matured in a single first-fill sherry hogshead, promising a beautiful fruitiness. 212 bottles have been released for sale. The Decadent Drams range was launched last year, succeeding the previous range, Whisky Sponge, which ended at the same time. Nearly 50 whiskies have already been released. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Creamy peat, chestnut cream and damp charcoal, pencil lead and fig, blueberry jam. A few red fruits coated in melted chocolate, smoked bacon, chimney soot, well-hidden mineral and earthy elements, quartz, sea spray, seaweed. Full ashtray. On the palate, it is deep, woody, honey and caramel, strawberry coulis, a good layer of peat, varnish, old leather, mastered spices. On the finish, burnt rubber, it is long, powerful, but not quite explosive, a touch of iodine and dust, exotic fruits, coffee beans. A mint leaf. 

 

In Short, 

Yes, it's a particularly good Sherry Caol Ila, but I'm not entirely convinced. Admittedly, the balance is very good, the fruity notes and peat are not overpowering, and you can detect the subtle characteristics of the distillate, but it lacks that little something extra, that touch of genius that would make it perfect. What's more, the price is still very high for what it is, let's not exaggerate.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Calva Louise - Camino

Caol Ila 2013 Signatory Vintage La Maison du Whisky Exclusive Bottling 12 yo

 

 

 

54,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

The second representative of Chapter X of the Plume Collection, this Caol Ila spent 12 years, two months and one day in a first-fill sherry butt, resulting in an astonishing number of 666 bottles. It was included in the Itinéraires series for priority sale on the French market by La Maison du Whisky. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is perfect, mellow, complex, deep, balanced, dark chocolate, elegant woodiness, quince tart, apple jam sprinkled with cinnamon, candied red berries, roasted nuts, which blend beautifully with fireplace ashes, heather earth, soot and tar, charcoal and caramel, a few notes of iodine in the background, rich peat, wisps of black smoke. On the palate, chocolate fondant, fig jam, ripe apricots, blood oranges, fried bacon and, of course, thick peat, dotted with truffle and morel mushrooms. The finish is once again perfect, warm chestnuts, coffee grounds, hot asphalt, prunes, sandalwood, grated nutmeg. 

 

In Short, 

In my opinion, this is the best you can get from a relatively young Caol Ila aged in a sherry cask. It's very intense, yet not too strong, there's a certain balance, with woodiness, smoothness and a variety of fruits. What's more, the price is very reasonable. It's definitely worth buying if you're a fan of this profile, but you'll have to hurry. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           BBO - Pull Me Under

Port Askaig 2008 Collection Itinéraires 16 yo

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

The Port Askaig range was launched by Elixir Distillers, then known as Speciality Drinks, in 2009. The aim was to pay tribute to Islay whisky, and more specifically to Caol Ila, as most Port Askaig whiskies actually come from this distillery. I'm not entirely sure if this is the case here, but the profile matches, and La Maison du Whisky website is quite explicit on this point. This bottling was selected to be part of the Collection Itinéraires launched at Whisky Live Paris 2025. 280 bottles were put on sale. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

There are fruits in there, pear, quince, and even almond, but there is also everything that makes Islay what it is: fuel oil, diesel and coal, sea foam, coarse sea salt and sea spray, grassy peat, mineral notes, chalk, quartz, limestone, powerful and captivating smoke. There is also a good dose of lemon and vanilla. On the palate, it's more like clafoutis, fruit cooked with eggs, a thick layer of peat and dry herbs, a slight medicinal touch, powerful spices, pepper and cumin. Long and violent finish, digging deep into the earth, shortbread biscuits, candied fruit, seaweed and kelp, cold ashes, thyme and rosemary. 

 

In Short, 

For me, it's a classic Islay, certainly a Caol Ila, with everything you need to enjoy it, and some pleasant fruity notes. Perhaps there were a few staves from a sherry cask in the Refill Hogshead. That said, it's also possible that it's a Lagavulin, I could be wrong. In any case, if you like this profile, you'll have a good time tasting this stuff. Only the price is a little off-putting. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sun Descends Alone - Once

Caol Ila 1984 Artist #15 Something in the Water 40 yo

 

 

 

51,3°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Sometimes you get lucky and come across genuine antiques, such as this Caol Ila, undoubtedly the pinnacle of this year's Artist range, having spent 40 years in a previously used hogshead, allowing the distillate to shine. Only 99 bottles have been produced, making it a true rarity. The artwork chosen to illustrate it is Meandering Through Relationships I, by Radhika Surana.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fresh nose, concentrated coastal character, lacey iodine, abundant sea spray, seaweed and sea breeze. Very light but present peat, which adds depth. Oysters, razor clams, fresh sardines, scallops. Coarse sea salt, sprinkled with lemon, grapefruit and a dash of vanilla. A few herbaceous and mineral notes in the background, slate, reeds, peppermint. Very subtle floral fragrances, wispy smoke. On the palate, it is oily, full of mineral salts, very balanced. On a layer of peat, bottarga, bulgur wheat, salicornia, sweet cereals, almond paste, lard. Very discreet spices, nutmeg, white pepper. The spices become stronger on the finish, which is endless, explosive, the salt leaning slightly towards mint, acacia honey, lemon zest, liquorice. Then, soot and charcoal bring back all the peat and smoke.

 

In Short, 

It's truly magnificent, we really have all the essence of Caol Ila, incredible depth and complexity, and it goes in all directions. It is one of those wonderful whiskies whose tasting is more of a journey than an appreciation. The price, on the other hand, is as high as the International Space Station, it's really reserved for an elite.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Michelle Gurevich - Feel More

Caol Ila 2006 The Single Malts of Scotland 18 yo c. 307354

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

This Caol Ila spent 18 years, eight months and one day in a Refill Hogshead, then it was bottled and 271 bottles invaded the stores. It is not sure to be Cask Strength because this series is bottled at 'optimum strength', but not necessarily Cask Strength. On whiskybase, there is another cask, the 3073546, bottled the same day, but I think this is a mistake, this other cask doesn't exist. However, I wrote the name of the cask to avoid any confusion. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very full-bodied peat, quite powerful, dry and herbaceous, thick smoke, crystalline iodine, sea kelp, sea foam, sea air. Behind this, light vanilla, almond paste, whipped cream and a hint of lemon zest. Light woodiness, shortbread biscuits, roasted hazelnuts. On the palate, it is creamy, vanilla and lychees, milk chocolate, white grapes, a few mirabelle plums. Rough spices, black pepper, cloves. Long finish, where peat and smoke come to the fore again, sea salt, seaweed, scallops, oak bark, lemon pulp.

 

In Short, 

I found it a little unbalanced, with the peat and smoke seeming very strong, especially on the nose, but perhaps that was because the bottle had just been opened. Overall, it lacks originality. It's a classic Caol Ila, with a profile we've seen many times before, where age doesn't play much of a role in refining the more tempestuous flavours. It's still very good, and I'll always be a fan of this distillery, but at this age you expect something more, which I didn't find here. That said, the price is still decent.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Merciful Nuns - The Pyramid

Caol Ila 2014 100 Proof Edition #28 10 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

1st Fill and Refill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

There are 6 different Caol Ilas in the 100 Proof collection, which was launched in January 2024, and I've only tasted three of them. It's not for lack of appreciation of this distillery, but I haven't had the chance. The #11 is aged in a Rum Barrel, which is original and well done, but I'm not a fan of this type of ageing. The #10 was aged in a blend of Bourbon Hogsheads and Sherry Butts, and I liked it, but it was a bit younger than this one, which is also the first to be aged entirely in Sherry Butts. The number of bottles filled is not specified, but it must be around several thousand.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Intense smoke, stuffed ashtray. Behind, soft caramel, dried banana, dates. Figs, brown tobacco, prunes. A touch of iodine, but very discreet. Black cherries. On the palate, thick, heavy, haunting peat and dark chocolate, mocha, dried fruits, fruit paste. Just the right amount of spice, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon. Very long, nicely tangy finish, roots, chocolate and coffee, a drop of tar, melting liquorice, asphalt softened by the heat. Cola, liquid honey, bay leaves.

 

In Short, 

It's exactly what you'd expect from a Caol Ila full of Sherry at this age. I have to admit that I really enjoyed it, it's nice to rediscover the profile of this distillery, which blends nicely with the Sherry influence. The only slight flaw was that the palate was a little flat, which prevented me from raising the note. But the rest is very good, and it's a bargain at this price. I've put it on my list of purchases to consider.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           The Vintage Caravan - Crossroads

Caol Ila 1982 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection Cask Strength 36 yo

 

 

 

54,4°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

It's a privilege to taste this 36-year-old Caol Ila, and what's more, it's a gift from a friend, which is priceless. The maturation was simply done in Bourbon Hogshead, resulting in just 120 bottles. At this age, the peat is very discreet and barely noticeable.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Right away, tropical fruit and citrus, with a hint of peat in the form of grit, wood shavings and small gravel. Rainy iodine in the background, contrasting with tasty fruits, roasted pineapple, white melon, banana, lychee, and beeswax, floor wax, walnut oil, robust and elegant woodiness, like those untreated beams in a hay-filled barn. Syrupy honey, molasses, crushed dates. On the palate it's wiser, olive oil, lemon zest, a dash of vanilla, biscuit dough rolled in flour with a shadow of icing sugar, delicate peat and barely perceptible spices in the background. Very long finish, like a goods train in a country station, powerful, crushed hazelnuts, smoked salmon, sesame seeds, herbal notes, reeds, white grapes with their seeds, a few more drops of wax.

 

In Short, 

An incredible Caol Ila, but not really recognisable, I would have rather said Springbank, or Bowmore, which is a compliment, because these are among my favourite distilleries. The nose and finish are sublime, the palate is just excellent, and it all adds up to one of the best Caol Ila's I've ever had. If not the best. The price was quite right when it first came out, but it sold out very quickly, and today you can still find it, but only if you multiply by two or three, it becomes more prohibitive.

Score : 91 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lunatic Soul - The World Under Unsun

Caol Ila 2012 Hidden Spirits Classic Version 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

This Classic Version range from Hidden Spirits offers demanding Daily Drams that reflect the identity of the distillery or the region. Most of the time, the whisky is reduced to 48° and aged in a cask that will have little influence, in this case a Refill Bourbon Cask. This Caol Ila is therefore an opportunity to rediscover the distillery. The number of bottles produced is unknown.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's pure Caol Ila, with iodine, sea breeze, limestone, sea spray, seaweed, fish, and also a very grimy smoke, tyre, rubber, liquorice. A dash of vanilla, lemon zest and even a few mirabelle plums. Dust, pebble beach. Quartz, slate. The palate is fruitier, the peat more discreet, Île flottante with its custard, almond milk, meringue, a hint of pineapple. Lively spices, pepper, nutmeg. A powerful finish, with the peat returning in force, thick, solid, earthy and mineral, sandstone, chalk, white chocolate, sultanas, cashew nuts and crushed peanuts.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Caol Ila, which I really enjoyed. The typicity is incredible, and there's also a lovely complexity. Honestly, I've rarely enjoyed such a Caol Ila, and I've tasted a lot of them. It's still a reduced 12 year old, of course, but it's much better than you'd expect. The price seems fair, but it's hard to find.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Night in Athens - Words Unspoken

Caol Ila 2010 Single Cask Collection Foundations 14 yo c. 311752

 

 

 

57°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Hogshead and Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Caol Ila is, as everyone knows, the largest distillery on Islay, and independent bottlings abound, with the prestigious house of Berry Bros. & Rudd being no exception. But this one has been selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Foundations Collection, so there must be something special about it. Aged in a Hogshead, it was then finished in an Oloroso Sherry cask, resulting in 265 bottles reserved in priority for the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

This is a fine, classic Caol Ila with a strong, creamy sherry. Red fruit, amarena cherries and candied raspberries, a slice of bacon and a hint of iodine, enhanced by woody notes, leather and dates, figs. The palate is expressive but a little dry, with redcurrants, liquorice and a pinch of salt. Lively spices, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, mixed with hot toffee and a few cereals. Long finish, where the peat finally comes through, thick, ashy, notes of earth, iodine, loamy charcoal, elastic, but also some blueberries, blackberries.

 

In Short, 

There's nothing really special here, it's a rather classic Caol Ila but very well made, with good balance and subtle nuances. I did find it a little gentle, though, as I only felt the power of the peat in the finish. It will appeal to those who prefer very well-integrated peat. On the other hand, the price seems a bit high to me,  so it's better to wait for a promotion, it's still available at La Maison du Whisky, but not for long I think.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Solarcycles - Moonblind

Caol Ila 2011 Gifted Stills of Scotland

 

 

 

43°

Disitllery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bordeaux Wine Barriques

Independent Bottling 

By Jean Boyer 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Jean Boyer has released a number of Caol Ila in his Gifted Stills of Scotland collection. They're all aged in Bourbon casks, except for this one, which grew in Bordeaux wine barriques, from an estate in the east of Bordeaux. It could well be a Pomerol, a Saint-Emilion, a Fronsac, a Côtes de Blaye or an Entre-deux-mers. Wine Barriques are normally 225 litres long, and the number of bottles produced is 1180, so we can calculate that three barrels were used. As for the age, it does not exceed 7 years at best.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Beautiful, deep and grainy peat mixed with slightly fermented red fruit, tarry, earthy notes, damp bark, vegetal moss, mushrooms cooked with herbs, sultanas, redcurrants, hot chestnuts that melt in the mouth, stagnant soot, charcoal balls, a few drops of petroleum. On the palate it's very pleasant, dark chocolate, dried strawberries, bread dough, chestnuts, but the spices are quite strong, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is rather long, but not very explosive, with chocolate-covered fruit, heather earth, lacquer, roasted hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

We were several people who tasted it blind, and we were surprised by the quality of the product. Despite its youth and the reduction in alcohol, we found it to be a complex, deep whisky with a lovely peatiness that will delight connoisseurs. The price is a bit high, but it's worth it. Unfortunately, it has not been available anywhere for a long time.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Black Doldrums - Mae's Desire

Caol Ila 11 yo Special Release 2024 Ambrosial Feast

 

 

 

57,3°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill and Rejuvenated ex-Wine American and European Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Unpeated Caol Ila is something of a curiosity on Islay. It's like pizza without cheese or spaghetti without tomato sauce - some people say it's good, but you never see them eating it. It's been a long time since an unpeated bottling came out of the stills at the North Islay distillery, the latest Unpeated Caol Ila dating back to 2018. This one is partly made from wine casks, so it could be interesting.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Airy nose, with a sea breeze that's not at all aggressive, light wood, hazelnuts, quince jam and a hint of honey. Green apples, vergeoise-filled biscuits. Brewer's yeast, white peaches, soft caramel. In the mouth, hazelnuts, espresso, soft caramel, liquorice, dates. Lively spices, followed by a mellow, long, rocky and fruity finish. Sultanas, limestone, quartz, a few grains of salt, hawthorn, honeysuckle, chestnuts and a touch of vanilla. Almond paste, woody undertones. 

 

In Short, 

What I like about Caol Ila is the peat, of course, but above all its costal and salty character, its mineral intensity. Here, there's none of that. It's a pleasant, well-made product, with fruit, wood and hazelnuts, with only a few mineral elements showing through. It lacks personality, in my opinion. What's more, the price is slightly high, personally I don't see the point of buying it.

Score : 88   

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ginger Evil - Arrowhead

Caol Ila 2002 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength Collection Foundations 21 yo

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill Sherry Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is one of the world's leading independent bottlers. In order to shine in the Foundations collection on offer for tasting at the Whisky Live Paris 2024, the best casks are opened, such as this Caol Ila aged 21 years in a Refill Sherry Hogshead. 159 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A magnificent balance of mineral and maritime iodine, fine ashy peat and dried fruit. Dried dates and apricots, soot-tinged gravel, sea breeze, limestone and gypsum, pinch of salt, seaweed, kelp, shellfish, whelks topped with caramel, shortbread biscuits. It remains delicate on the palate, with light but fleshy fruit, vanilla mixed with peat, slate and quartz slivers, fresh fish with their scales, a zest of lime. Broad spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, benzoin. Very slight medicinal touch, ointment. Long, explosive finish, charcoal and bark, marzipan, walnut honey, apricot-filled biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's really very well done, with great delicacy. As is often the case with Gordon & MacPhail, the age adds subtlety and complexity, but in no way detracts from the distillery's character. The price is high, however, so let's hope for a promotion.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Shedfromthebody - Lungs

Caol Ila 2017 Provenance Collection Foundations 7 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill Hogshead and Barbados Rum Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the new Foundations collection, this Caol Ila was aged for 5 years in a Refill Hogshead, then finished for 2 years in a Barbados rum cask. It produced 237 bottles, sold almost exclusively on the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose full of ashy smoke, grit and metal, slight dampness, but also a lovely fullness of icing sugar, juicy pear, coconut, cane sugar. White fruits, grainy cereals, oil and tar. On the palate, hints of vanilla and soya milk, perhaps papaya, ripe banana, lychee. It's fresh and slightly unctuous, punctuated by perennial spices, cloves, nutmeg, pepper. Agave, reeds. The finish is fairly long, herbaceous, mangrove-like, thick peat, a dash of aniseed, a few drops of honey, then it becomes earthy.

In Short, 

The combination of the ashy peat typical of Caol Ila and the rum from the Barbados is quite successful. The nose is full-bodied, the palate is pleasant, and the finish is decent despite the reduction. The result is a pleasant curiosity, which I recommend to fans of the distillery, at a relatively high but affordable price.

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sam Fender - Peaple Watching

Caol Ila The Distillers Edition 2023

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrels and Moscatel Seasoned Recharred American Oak Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Since 2022, the Distillers Editions, which were the pride of Diageo, are no longer vintage, and there is nothing to differentiate this one from the 2022 one, apart from a typo in the address of the distillery. It is written Port Asking on the 2022 edition, and Port Askaig, which is correct, on the 2023. Is this still an annual limited edition, as it has been since 2006, or is it now in the Core Range? This is all very disappointing. The fact remains that we have the same ageing, finished in Moscatel casks, a sweet wine from Portugal. It's just that we no longer know how old the product is, let alone how many bottles are on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly acidic nose, bathed in still-warm cigar ash, herbaceous and earthy notes, but with a good dose of fruit pulp, yellow plums, mirabelles, lime, honey, papaya, plantain. A trail of salt, and even maritime hints if you're careful. On the palate, it's well done, silky, with icing sugar and rose loukoums. Pear juice and caramel. Quite elegant peat in the background, an overturned ashtray, but blended in overall. Quite a long, ashy, charcoal finish, with vinous tints, bark, sweet white fruit and vanilla.

In Short, 

Admittedly, it's about as good as the vintage Distillers Edition, and probably better than some of them. The balance between the sweetness of the Moscatel and the thick, fatty smoke is incredible. A deep complexity, and a lovely fruity sweetness. Obviously, the price has gone up, but it's still worth buying.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Silentways - Aeon

Caol Ila 2013 100 Proof Edition #11 10 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

2d Fill Rum Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm 

This is the 2nd Caol Ila in the 100 Proof range launched by Signatory Vintage at the end of last year. The first was nothing really special, aged in Oloroso Sherry casks. This one has been aged entirely in Rum Barrels, which is something special. But it's a second fill, so we can hope that the Rum influence won't be too strong. We don't know how many bottles were produced.

Let's Taste It : 

A fine trail of cigar ash. Then the peat rises, laden with vanilla sweetness. Cane sugar, reeds, sweet potatoes, blond tobacco, lime, pineapple. The peat remains very intense. Frécinette bananas. On the palate, the rum's influence is clearer, with citrus and white fruits, papaya and grapefruit. A texture similar to sunflower oil. Spices very present, cumin and pepper. Long, fairly powerful finish, liquorice, prickly pear, cola and caramel. Tamarind.

 

In Short, 

I think that rum doesn't go well with peat. I've felt that way several times with this type of bottling. Here, it's not bad, especially as the rum remains discreet given that it's a 2nd fill, and the peat is very strong. But I still find a lack of consistency. Having said that, I had a good time. It's better than Ardbeg Drum anyway. And it's a lot cheaper.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Coma Rossi - Oblivion

Caol Ila 2015 Artist Collective N°7.4 8 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Bourbon Hogdheads

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

And here is the latest representative of this Batch 2024 in the Artist Collective range bottled by Signatory Vintage. This is an 8-year-old Caol Ila aged in 6 Hogsheads, giving a total of 2753 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very smoky nose, thick fog, recently extinguished chimney, lignite blocks. But the profile is still very Bourbon, with vanilla and beaten butter, very intense mineral notes, limestone, quartz, gypsum. The palate is a little light, but fruity, with pleasant spices, cloves and black pepper. Some crushed walnuts. Lemon coulis. The finish is relatively powerful and quite long, with hints of ash, black earth, dark chocolate and coffee beans. Forest undergrowth, in wet weather.

In Short, 

Tasted blind, I didn't recognize the distillery, even though I'm familiar with it. And for good reason, the ashy notes on the nose are nowhere to be found, and even less the very coastal profile that I love. Perhaps the influence of the casks is too strong, or the distillate too reduced. What's more, the palate is a little light. Fortunately, the finish makes up for this a little, but I'm still disappointed overall. For a bottling like this, I think the price is exaggerated.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cemetery Skyline - Behind the Lie

Caol Ila 2015 Signatory Vintage 8 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

I had the opportunity to taste this one about a month ago, and I've been waiting for it to be officially released before talking about it. But I'm getting tired of waiting, and it won't be the first time I've been interested in a bottle that hasn't been released yet. The thing is, there's a lack of information here, because it doesn't really exist yet, we don't know how many bottles have been made, for example. But we do know the age, about 8 years and 5 months, and the nature of the cask, Bourbon Hogshead, after all that's the main thing.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

This is fresh, young and vigorous. Powerful, charcoal-laden, pervasive and beautiful smoke. Balanced by a creamy and pastry-like vanilla, a lemon zest and ripe mirabelle plums. Peat in the background, with maritime notes, tide, fresh fish, foam, sea spray, seaweed, kelp. On the palate, a certain velvety sweetness, citrus freshness, banana, drops of honey, relatively powerful spices. Quite a long finish, with American tobacco, walnuts and hazelnuts, clods of earth, and a few more dollops of smoky peat.

 

In Short, 

A very successful Caol Ila, where the fruit balances well with the peat. On the other hand, I found that the maritime notes were a bit in the background. Very pleasant overall, despite the reduction. Let's hope the price is in line with the quality of the product. 

Score : 87  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Vintage Trouble - Blues Hand Me Down