“Fantasy Islay”
Whisky Review # 1038
Region: Islay
Brand: Caol Ila 2010
Bottled By: LMDW (La Maison du Whisky) in 2021 - Artist Collective # 5.3
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48%
Maturation: 3 Refill Ex-Sherry Butts - 2139 Bottles
Sample provided by Maurico from Brazil. Many Thanks!
Maturation: 3 Refill Ex-Sherry Butts - 2139 Bottles
Sample provided by Maurico from Brazil. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 110-140 (Oktober 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline okay
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline okay
Buying Advice: 👍 Very interesting and different Caol Ila. Worth the try!
Color:
Color:
Amber (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Nose:
Make sure to give this Caol Ila some time in the glass before Nosing as initially it is a little Dirty (think Ledaig). There's some Sulphur around as well. I don't think I would recognize this as Caol Ila in a blind tasting. The Sherry cask influence is obvious and dominates the Spirit somewhat. On the Nose you will get a Dusty and Young mix of Sweet and Bitter notes with some Salty and Sour notes as well in the background. The Smoke and Hospital notes are there but not in an overpowering way. Various Fruity notes as well. Not bad but quite different from your average Caol Ila. The Alcohol is noticeable but does not interfere with the Nosing.
Main Aromas:
Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earth (Peat), Ashes, Iodine and Hospital, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Dark Berries and Cherries, Orange, Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earth (Peat), Ashes, Iodine and Hospital, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Dark Berries and Cherries, Orange, Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toffee, Vanilla, Resin, Nuts, Nectarine, Pear, Wet Rocks and Sand, Sulphur, Varnish, Leather, Tobacco, Copper Coins, Dark Cocoa, Soy Sauce, Mango, Petrol/Oil and Pepper.
Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toffee, Vanilla, Resin, Nuts, Nectarine, Pear, Wet Rocks and Sand, Sulphur, Varnish, Leather, Tobacco, Copper Coins, Dark Cocoa, Soy Sauce, Mango, Petrol/Oil and Pepper.
Palate:
Young, Bitter-Sweet and a little on the Thin side but quite agreeable despite a few Dirty notes. It's not mainstream stuff and that's a good thing!
Main Flavours:
Young, Bitter-Sweet and a little on the Thin side but quite agreeable despite a few Dirty notes. It's not mainstream stuff and that's a good thing!
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Hospital, Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Resin, Dried Fruit like Plums, Dates, Apricots and Prunes, Dark Berries and Cherries, Orange, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Tar, Pepper, Nutmeg and Mint.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Wax, Nuts, Leather, Tobacco, Grapefruit, Nectarine, Pear, Burnt Matches, Burnt Herbs, Mango, Cinnamon, Ginger and Aniseed.
Finish:
Young & a little Thin despite the adequate ABV. It's Sweet at first but some Bitter and Burnt notes appear towards the Dry end. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, slightly Burnt Bacon on the BBQ, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums & Apricots, Burnt Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Tobacco, Leather, Resin, Dusty Oak, Espresso, Gas Station, Soap, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mango, Hospital, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Aniseed and Licorice.
Young & a little Thin despite the adequate ABV. It's Sweet at first but some Bitter and Burnt notes appear towards the Dry end. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, slightly Burnt Bacon on the BBQ, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums & Apricots, Burnt Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Tobacco, Leather, Resin, Dusty Oak, Espresso, Gas Station, Soap, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mango, Hospital, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Aniseed and Licorice.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water does not improve this Caol Ila.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion:
The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers finally became part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is really beautifully located alongside the strait between the islands of Islay and Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 and 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 and 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures. Caol Ila is certainly one of my favorite distilleries and Single Malts.
The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers finally became part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is really beautifully located alongside the strait between the islands of Islay and Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 and 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 and 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures. Caol Ila is certainly one of my favorite distilleries and Single Malts.
The Art on the Label was created by Loren Klein. I must admit I'm not familiar with the work of this Artist but the Label looks nice.
I don't think these slightly Dirty & Sulfury Ex-Sherry casks are the best vessels for the Caol Ila Spirit but the result is nevertheless interesting. I find that Caol Ila almost never really disappoints. So while this 2010 LMDW is not among my most favorite Caol Ila malts it's still good enough to recommend to those who like young peated Islay Malt with a slightly Dirty Sherried twist.
Cheers 🥃
