"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”
Whisky Review # 1034
Region: Islay
Brand: Caol Ila 2009 - Distilled: 28-10-2009
Bottled By: James Eadie in 2021 - Exclusive Selection for The Netherlands
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # 358023 - 367 Bottles
Age: 11 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 56.6% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Cask with 7 months Finish (Refill Palo Cortado Hogshead)
Chill Filtration: No
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Cask with 7 months Finish (Refill Palo Cortado Hogshead)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 90-105 (September 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay
Buying Advice: 👍 Very pleasant Young and slightly Hot Islay Malt
Color:
Color:
Yellow Gold (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Nose:
Pleasant, Light and relatively Young Coastal peated Malt. All the usual Aromas are present. They are mainly Sweet, Fruity, Vegetal and Mineral. A few Musty & Sour notes as well. I almost always like Caol Ila & on the Nose this James Eadie seems to be no exception. The Alcohol does not interfere with the Nosing procedures.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Cold Campfire Smoke, Wet Coastal Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Brine, Iodine, Yeast, Straw and Grass, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Green Apple, Pear, Banana, Charred Oak, Nutmeg and Mint.
Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Cold Campfire Smoke, Wet Coastal Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Brine, Iodine, Yeast, Straw and Grass, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Green Apple, Pear, Banana, Charred Oak, Nutmeg and Mint.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Burnt Heather, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Wet Sand & Paper, Dusty Track, Musty Dunnage, Farmyard, Cooked Vegetables, Sour Grapefruit and Seville Orange, Tobacco, Leather, Gas Station, Apricot Jam, Cinnamon & Licorice. A hint of Strong Cheese.
Burnt Heather, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Wet Sand & Paper, Dusty Track, Musty Dunnage, Farmyard, Cooked Vegetables, Sour Grapefruit and Seville Orange, Tobacco, Leather, Gas Station, Apricot Jam, Cinnamon & Licorice. A hint of Strong Cheese.
Palate:
A pleasant albeit slightly Hot mix of Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Sour and Coastal notes. A few more years in the cask and, as a consequence, a lower ABV could have made this a great Whisky. It's still quite good though and thoroughly enjoyable.
Main Flavours:
A pleasant albeit slightly Hot mix of Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Sour and Coastal notes. A few more years in the cask and, as a consequence, a lower ABV could have made this a great Whisky. It's still quite good though and thoroughly enjoyable.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Campfire Smoke, Coastal Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Grass and Straw, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Green Apple, Pear, Charred Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Burnt Heather, Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Dusty Track, Wet Sand & Stones, Almonds, Tobacco, Dairy, Dried Fruit like Apricots and Raisins, Papaya Cream with Creme de Cassis, Sour Grapefruit and Seville Orange, Nutmeg, Mint, Aniseed, Licorice, Caffe Latte and Leather.
Finish:
Middle-Long and slightly Hot. Sweet at first but with developing Sour & light Bitter notes towards the Dry end. Its relative Youth is more noticeable now and so is the Alcohol. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Buttered Toast, Burnt Heather, Tar, Campfire Smoke, Coastal Peat, Cigar Ashes, Brine, Iodine, Grass & Straw, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Dusty Track, Green Apple, Sour Citrus Fruit, Charred Oak, Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mint, Aniseed, Ginger, Licorice, Milk Chocolate and Metal.
Middle-Long and slightly Hot. Sweet at first but with developing Sour & light Bitter notes towards the Dry end. Its relative Youth is more noticeable now and so is the Alcohol. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Buttered Toast, Burnt Heather, Tar, Campfire Smoke, Coastal Peat, Cigar Ashes, Brine, Iodine, Grass & Straw, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Dusty Track, Green Apple, Sour Citrus Fruit, Charred Oak, Tobacco, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mint, Aniseed, Ginger, Licorice, Milk Chocolate and Metal.
Drinking Advice:
I added a bit of Water and although it does not improve the Nose, it will get you more Fruit on the Palate. But it also alters the Coastal profile of this Caol Ila. I prefer it neat but you can certainly experiment with a little Water.
I added a bit of Water and although it does not improve the Nose, it will get you more Fruit on the Palate. But it also alters the Coastal profile of this Caol Ila. I prefer it neat but you can certainly experiment with a little Water.
Rating: 8 (********)
Nose: 8 - 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.
Caol Ila has become one of my favorite distilleries and this 11 Year old expression by James Eadie does not disappoint. It's still a bit Young and Rough around the edges but quite enjoyable. The Sherry Finish adds just enough Sweetness. If you like Young and peated Islay Whisky you can't go wrong with this one!
Cheers 🥃
