Caol Ila Moch

Bright and smooth start, but a weak finish as the flavor seems to drop off at the end.

This is another bottle I had thrown in with an international order several months back. My experience with Caol Ila is rather limited, especially with their traditional peated range. I’ve had the 12 year, but everything else I’ve sampled has been from their limited released, unpeated line: 15yo and 17yo. This Moch is a re-issue of their new, NAS line. It’s bottled at 43% and cost me $60, plus shipping. It’s yellow gold, oily and makes tons of legs and big, watery drops when you spin it in your favorite Glencairn. The nose was primarily butterscotch, light earthy peat smoke and very faint oak cask. No issues with the ABV whatsoever. The palate was slightly warming with a nice buttery, BBQ smoke. There was hints of oak and vanilla before it turned salty and dry after mid sip. The finish was medium in length, peaty yet ultimately salty and dry. I don’t have any issues with the NAS aspect here: it isn’t abrasive or overly hot. It does a nice job at being light and very approachable. Overall, it’s solid although the price point is a bit high for what you’re getting. I could see turning to this when you want a little something Islay-esque, without the crazy flavor complexity. It would also be a nice shift in the middle of a tasting event as you prepare your palate for something heavier or as you switch back to unpeated, sherried whisky. 3.5-3.75 stars, but I think I’d bum a pour or try it in a bar for under $7-8 instead of buying another bottle. Cheers.

Peaty. Sweet. Metallic at the end