Newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter for information on our latest products and promotions.
Sign up for our newsletter for information on our latest products and promotions.
Please confirm that you are of legal age
to purchase alcohol in your region.
You currently have an active checkout session
open already, would you like to clear it?
1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Classic, feisty young Caol Ila. Distilled in 2008 and matured in an ex-Bourbon Hogshead cask for 10 years before bottling at 53.5%. Only 6 total bottles are coming to KWM, and we opened one for a tasting, so make it 5!
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: soft, floral and honeyed with vanilla and dried fruits; tarry, savoury, and honeyed with seared scallops and smoked mussels; chewy malt and crisp earthy peat smoke.
Palate: soft, floral and malty; silky vanilla, creamed honey and girsty-chewy malt; tarry, oily peat and briny medicinal tones; loads of citrus: lemon and lime juice; fatty butter and more seafood-y tones: smoked mussels and seared scallops.
Finish: clean, decadent and maritime; malty with oily peat and vanilla; juicy citrus.
Comment: a lovely, young, elegant malt; without flaws; classic young Caol Ila!
750 ml
$99.99
The most overlooked of all the peated heavyweights, despite the fact that it out-produces all of them by a substantial margin, Caol Ila (pronounced 'cull-eela') is a not-so-hidden gem for malt lovers. It is a sister distillery to Lagavulin (and Port Ellen!) and produces whisky with the same level of phenols as Lag, though generally speaking Caol Ila is a tick more delicate. The distillery's general profile is usually fairly citrus-driven, with a strong maritime influence and clean herbal notes. The 12 year old is an icon, but if you ever get a chance to walk up the age-stated range into the 20s and 30s, do not pass up the opportunity.
43% abv
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and dentist's mouthwash. A fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke.
Palate: Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish.
Finish: Sweet smokiness in the lingering, slightly sour finish.
