Caol Ila 2010
Style: Small Batch #2
Cask Type: Hogshead
Vintage: 2010
Bottled: 2022
Region: Islay
No. of bottles: 1128
ABV: 46.0%
Release: Summer 2022
Doug McIvor
“I often find a Caol Ila has a pleasing balance of peat smoke, citrus and a broader sweeter character, and this Small Batch demonstrates it perfectly. One to enjoy on a warm summer’s night around the embers of a beach bonfire, preferably somewhere along the West Coast.”
Tasting Notes
The nose is initially deceptively gentle, offering icing sugar and a slight earthy smoke, though time in the glass crescendos the coastal peat showing muscular phenolic character. The palate gives more notes of peat smoke along with damp wool, icing sugar, slight floral notes, and more peat smoke! The finish is unmistakably coastal, fading slowly with flavours of kippers, tar and yet more smoke.
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: “Once one of Islay’s lesser known distilleries mainly being used to add some smoke to Diageo’s blends, Caol Ila has had a spotlight shone on it by many Independent bottlers over the last decade or so including BB&R. Whilst still a powerfully peaty whisky, Caol Ila shows finesse also; often giving a zesty citrus character alongside bags of coastal peat.”