jimmyjam312
Caol Ila 18 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
January 5, 2023 (edited June 13, 2023)
Review #007
Tasted after: Caol Ila 13 Year Discovery (Gordon & Macphail)
Appearance (no score):
• Dark gold color
• Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form
Nose: 18/20
• Fresh pineapples, bacon, smoke, dried apricots, and a hint of brown sugar
Palate: 46/50
• The flavor isn’t mouth popping, it’s soft and delicious, cereal and oranges dominate, there’s some peaches in here too and a hint of dark chocolate
• No smoke on the palate, that waits until the finish to make an appearance
Finish: 27/30
• A nice long finish that takes its time, the smokey flavor is soft and accompanied by black pepper, honey, and just enough of a briny saltiness to wet the mouth and invite the next sip
Total: 91/100
• Scoring rubric 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, I will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection if feasible
• 4.75 stars
Final thoughts:
• This bottle holds a special place in my collection, it’s so unique and easy to sip, my only change would be to bottle it at a higher ABV
• Purchased on a trip to Scotland, but I hope one day I can find it here in the USA
• A drop of water brings out some sweetness on the palate and helps the pepper flavor in the finish pop
Price: £95
Would recommend: yes
Would buy: yes
95.0
GBP
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review