Caol Ila 2009
Style: Single Cask
Cask: #318661
Year of distillation: 2009
Bottled: 2021
Age: 12
Region: Islay
Cask Type: Hogshead
No. of bottles: 307
ABV: 51.9%
Release: Autumn 2021
Doug McIvor
“I love the Islay style and although it is not unusual for me to be found sipping heavy hitters such as Ardbeg or Laphroaig I would count Caol Ila as my “go to” due to its approachable fruity, smoky balance. This Caol Ila gives drifts of iodine, firm peatiness wrapped in a blanket.”
Tasting Notes
The nose is initially deceptively gentle, offering icing sugar and a light 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.
Rob says: “Massive and hideous” was how Caol Ila was first described to me – although, to be very clear, it was the distillery buildings that were being described to me, not the whisky, and much-less the hard working Ileachs employed there! To make so much spirit flow so exceptionally reliably and STILL maintain such an impeccable character takes great skill. Ask me which Islay dram I’ll have to drink, and it’ll more often than not be a Caol Ila, please.”