Caol Ila 2010
Cask: #311758
Cask Type: Hogstead
Bottled: 2022
Age: 12
Region: Islay
No. of bottles: 277
ABV: 56.5%
Release: Autumn 2022
Rob Whitehead
“Touches of classic Caol Ila. Green olive and lime on the nose interplay with fruitcake notes, doubtlessly drawn from the wood. Magnificently well-judged peat, as so very often at this wonderful distillery, is prevalent on the palate and shares space with dried exotic fruit. I’ll have this with some tea-loaf and a quiet evening of contemplation, even better on the shore by the distillery.”
Tasting Notes
Scotland meets Italy. The nose is initially quite tight; a drop of water helps to tease out the aromas, giving peat smoke paired with a backbone of citrussy fruit loaf. The palate is pleasingly thick, showing coastal peat, dried fruit, mango, figs and spiced melon. After a slow start, this dram doesn’t hesitate. The lingering finish - marrying Islay’s peat and Italy’s sweet, spicy fruit notes - ensures you’ll be back for another dram
Distillery
Caol Ila Distillery is near Port Askaig, looking across the Sound of Islay to neighbouring Jura. Its whisky is very well respected for both its distinctive, smoky Islay style and elegant, fruity balance
Ronnie says: “Caol Ila is a ‘must-visit’ distillery if you go to Islay not only, of course, for the legendary dram but, almost as importantly, it has the best still-house view of any distillery in Scotland. In this case it looks out over the Sound of Jura and the tidal rush. I promise you won’t regret it even if it’s raining... which is not unusual...”