ScotchingHard
Caol Ila 14 Year Small Batch (Cadenhead's)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 25, 2019 (edited May 8, 2021)
Purchased 9/27/2018. Killed 3/25/19.
Caol Ila
Cadenhead
14 years old
54.4% ABV
Distilled 2000
Bottled 2015
Bourbon Hogshead
Price: 105 USD
Limited to 144 bottles
There are some independent bottlers that have just mastered a specific distillery. Gordon & MacPhail and Mortlach; Signatory and Clynelish; and Cadenhead and Caol Ila. Every bottle of Caol Ila from Cadenhead is a masterpiece, worthy of an immediate purchase. Reminiscent of Port Ellen, but a lot cheaper, Cadenhead Caol Ila’s manage to take repulsive notes and flavors, and make them irresistible.
This 14 year old smells like wet socks and toenail fungus. I hate stinky cheese, but this somehow combines quite well with the heavy citrus, brine, and chocolate of a more typical Scotch. I also get limencello, which I hate, but this is made beautiful with the antiseptic notes. The peat is gently smoky, but heavily chemical with chlorine, iodine, and formaldehyde. It’s creamy as well, like freshly made banana juice with a spritz of lemon and a dash of salt. Towards the end of the bottle, there was a good amount of barrel sediment, and the finish became too oaky and metallic, but a splash of water fixed this, leaving you with roasted peanuts, incense fragrance, and the faint hints of a juicy, medically pickled cadaver.
I hope I properly turned you off, because I want these bottles to remain on the shelves for me.
Rating (price not factored): 94 / 100
Purchase satisfaction (price factored): 5 / 5
105.0
USD
per
Bottle
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A friend came across this bottle yesterday and I had him grab it for me. I have enjoyed every Caol Ila I’ve tried. Most have been G&M and I’m extremely looking forward to trying this expression. I apologize for snagging one of your bottles 😳
Great review, and spot on about the IBs and their affinities- couldn’t agree more.
@Rick_M I hated that smell! You couldn’t wash it off. Somehow this appeals to me in whisky.
@ScotchingHard - you already had me back at the med school lab even before you got to the pickled part. :)
“Medically picked cadaver”. Note of the year 👏