Caol Ila 12 Year
$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.
Finlaggan Old Islay Res Cask Strength
$79.99
Believed to be Caol Ila, the whisky is bottled at a cask strength of 58%. Finlaggan is an Islay mystery malt named for the most historically significant site on Islay. Loch (lake) Finlaggan--named after St. Findulgan who is believed to have brought Christianity to Islay--and its islands were the political and social capital of the Lord's of the Isles, who ruled the Western Isles of Scotland for over 400 years. Finlaggan Cask Strength is put together by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company, whom are also responsible for the Cooper's Choice and Ileach lineup. It is bottled at a batch strength of 58% ABV.
Port Askaig 8 Year
$79.99
Peatheads, rejoice! For those searching for a fix of sharp, young peat and bucketloads of billowy smoke, look no further. Port Askaig is a wee ferry port off the east coast of the isle of Islay. Its proximity to two of the island's most unfairly overlooked distilleries should give some sort of clue as to the pedigree of this neat little treat of a dram. Your choices are either Caol Ila or Bunnahabhain, and let's just say the answer rhymes with Caol Ila (Do you know how hard it is to rhyme in Gaelic?!).
If you know the distillery's character you'll immediately be able to see it all over this one. A true value whisky too. 45.8% abv, uncolored and non-chill-filtered.
Signatory 100 Proof Caol Ila 13 Year #70
$124.99
This 13 year old 100 Proof Caol Ila was matured in Oloroso Sherry Butts and Refill Hogsheads before bottling at 57.1%.
Old & Rare Caol Ila 32 Year
$1,099.99
This 1991 Old & Rare Caol Ila from Hunter Laing was bottled at 41% after 32 years in a Refill Hogshead cask.
Signatory CS Caol Ila 17 Year 57.7%
$299.99
Bottled at 57.7% after 17 years in First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. We've seen a number of casks from this parcel over the years, and they never disappoint.
Decadent Drams Caol Ila 19 Year
$384.99
50.1%
Producer Description
"We’ve been on a bit of a sherry run with Caol Ila lately (barring a very old Whiskyland outlier, which we’re choosing to ignore), so it felt like time to let the distillery breathe again. No tricks, no seasoning, no overthinking, just a proper refill hoggie doing exactly what it should and delivering Caol Ila in its most classical, self-assured form. Bottled at natural cask strength and left gloriously unbothered. It opens with that pristine coastal snap, all seawater, citrus and sharply chiselled peat, before drifting into tarry edges, green olives, capers and a slick of smoked olive oil. There’s wax, seaweed crackers and bone-dry peat smoke threading through it, keeping everything tight and focused. The finish lingers in all the right places, gently ashy, mineral, with lemon rind and black olive notes quietly hanging on. Effortless, expressive, and just a really lovely reminder of why Caol Ila doesn’t need dressing up."