Caol Ila 2008 (Cooper's Choice)

“A Soap Opera”

Whisky Review # 1063

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Caol Ila 2008 - Distilled in May 2008 - Bottled in 2020

Bottled By: The Vintage Malt Whisky Comp. Ltd (VM) -  Cooper's Choice series

Type: Single Malt "Single Cask" Scotch Whisky - Cask # 9116 - 324 Bottles

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 54.5%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with Amarone Red Wine cask Finish

Chill Filtration: No 

Price Average: US$ 100 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline Acceptable

Buying Advice: 👎 Look for alternatives like the Longrow 11 Years Cabernet 

Color:

Golden with a shade of red (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Be sure to avoid nosing in the middle of the glass to avoid the initial strong waves of Alcohol and Varnish. I'm a big fan of Caol Ila but this Nose does not really work for me. There's an early unpleasant undertone that reminds me of burnt Garden Waste and cheap Soap. I never perceived these notes when tasting the regular Distillery 12 Years so it's likely a cask issue. Over time the Nose improves so be sure to give this Caol Ila enough time in the glass before Nosing. Other than the above the Nose is mostly Sweet but also presents some Sour notes. The typical Islay notes are still there but they are slightly obscured by the Amarone Finish.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Margarine spread, Bacon, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Raisins, Cold Smoke, Wet Peat, Hospital, Rubber, cheap Soap, Leather, Pepper & Ginger.  

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Salted Caramel or Toffee, Vanilla, Roasted Nuts, Grapefruit, Soy Sauce, Balsamic Vinegar, slightly Sour Red Wine, Grass & Straw, Tar, Wet Rocks and Sand, Burnt Orange Skins, Tobacco, Seaweed and Dusty Oak.      

Palate:

Again, I'm not really pleased with the result. There must have been some issue with the initial Ex-Bourbon casks or the Amarone cask used for the Finishing. It's Dirty but not in a pleasant way. I've had a Longrow 11 Years Cabernet Sauvignon Cask once and that was so much better in every aspect. 

Main Flavours:

Toasted Grains, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Bacon/Fish/Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and mixed Herbs, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Aniseed.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Toasted Nuts, Cooked Vegetables, slightly Sour Red Wine, Soy Sauce and Balsamic Vinegar, Leather, Wet Stones and Sand, Floral Soap, Rubber, Nutmeg and Burnt Grass.

Finish:

Medium-Long. Sweet at first but with developing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The aftertaste is slightly "Dirty" and Metallic. I also find Toasted Grains & Nuts, Cooked Fruits and Vegetables, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs and Lemon, Grapefruit, slightly Sour Red Wine, Dusty Oak, Floral Soap, Aniseed, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Rubber, Leather and old Cigar Boxes.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Malt. It adds more Acidic notes to the nose.

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5 

*** 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: Borderline okay

 

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 & Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 & 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 & 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.

Amarone is an Italian Red Wine from the Valpolicella region in Veneto made from partially dried grapes, mainly of the Corvina variety. The Caol Ila I'm reviewing here was finished in a cask (# 9116) that previously held Amarone Wine. I must confess I'm not too pleased with the result. It smells and tastes "Dirty" like an Unfinished Symphony. I must blame the Cask Management. It's either that or I'm having a complete off-day. Because normally I quite enjoy Caol Ila in any shape or form. As it is however I can't recommend this specific VM expression. Too Much Soap Will Kill You as Brian May sang back in the days 😜

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                        April 17, 2025

Glenburgie 1989 (Gordon & MacPhail)

“Old Man”

Whisky Review # 1060

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Glenburgie 1989 - Distilled: 20-09-1989 - Bottled: 25-09-2019 
Bottled by: Gordon & MacPhail - Connaisseurs Choice Series  - 185 bottles

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Whisky - Cask # 14142
Age: 30 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 53.2% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Sherry Hogshead
Chill Filtration: No
Price: Around US$ 900 (March 2025) - Hard to find

Price/Quality Ratio: 😟 It can't be cheap of course but it's not worth the price

Buying Advice: 😐 It's nice enough although it overstayed its time in the cask 
 
Colour:

Mahogany with deep shades of Brown (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Mature Sherried Nose. Not too powerful thanks to the Refill cask. The Oak is very present and I believe this Glenburgie could/should have been bottled a few years earlier. Still it's not bad at all with Dried Fruits, Nuts, Honey, Oak & Spices in the lead. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated. Sweet with some Sour accents.A little Sulfur perhaps but nothing to worry about.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Honey, X-Mas Cake, Dried Fruits (Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, Dates), Dark Red Berries, Toasted Nuts, Grass & Straw, Dusty Oak, Dark Chocolate, Pepper, Cloves and Mint/Menthol.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Marzipan, Wax, Stewed Apples, Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit), Tobacco, Leather, Dusty Earth, Brandy, Raw Meat, Wet Rocks, Dried Herbs, Milk, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Palate:

The Palate follows the Nose. However, the Oak and the Spices come to the play at this point. I also get light hints of a Petrol station and Sulfur but nothing to get worried about. The Palate is a reasonably balanced mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes. 

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Toasted Cereals, Toasted Nuts, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Plums, Raisins, Dates and Sultanas, Dark Berries, X-Mas Cake, Orange-Flavored Bitter Chocolate, Grass and Straw, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Licorice and Menthol.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Buttered Toast, Butterscotch, Wax, Herbal Tea, Lemon, Grapefruit, Tobacco, Leather, Milk, Stewed Apple, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves and Cinnamon.  

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitter and Sour notes towards the Dry end. Oak and Spices really take control at this point. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Toasted Nuts, Dark Honey, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Sultanas, Orange-Flavored Dark Chocolate, Dark Berries, Grapefruit, Lemon, Stewed Apples, Grass and Straw, Wax, Dusty Track, Tobacco, Leather, Wet Rocks, Coconut, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Licorice and Menthol.   

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and that makes this Glenburgie more accessible. You will lose some depth though. As is the case most of the times I prefer it neat. But you can certainly play with a little Water.

Rating: 8 (********)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 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:

Good

Conclusion:

The Glenburgie distillery was founded in 1810 by William Paul, initially under the name Kilnflat, It closed in 1870 & reopened as Glenburgie in 1878. Since 2005 the distillery is owned by Chivas Regal (Pernod Ricard). Glenburgie is one of the three main Malt components of the Ballantine's Blend. The other two being Miltonduff & Glentauchers. The core range merely consists of the 12, 15 and 18 year old. Production amounts to around 4.2 litres per year.

I'm a great fan of Gordon & McPhail in general but in this case they should have bottled cask # 14142 3-5 years earlier in my opinion. As presented Oak and Spice become too dominant on the Palate and in the Finish. There's still enough to enjoy though and I did spend a nice two hours with this Glenburgie. Of course a Single Malt of this age can't be cheap but at current prices the P/Q ratio of this Malt does not look great. It was nice to taste a sample though!

Cheers, Jan 🥃                                                                         March 27, 2025

Auchroisk 8 (Brachadair)

“Only the Strong Survive” 

Whisky Review # 1054

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Auchroisk - Distilled in 2010

Bottled by: Brachadair in 2019

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # 79

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59.7% - Cask Strength
Maturation: First-Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask 
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: US$ 90 (January 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay  

Buying Advice: 😔 Probably a bridge too far for many. Try a sample first!

Color:

Deep Amber (Natural Color)

Nose:

The Alcohol is quite strong so please avoid sticking your nose in the middle of the glass. The Nose is Sweet, Dry and a little Dirty and there's a slight impression of Baby Vomit at first. Fortunately this disappears after air contact. The Youth of this Auchroisk is noticeable in a slightly Rough way. It's interesting though with hints of Ledaig, Jura and the JW Blended range.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Malted Barley, Butter Biscuits, Caramel, Dried Fruits like Sultanas, Apricots, Raisins, Plums and Dates, Mixed Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Sherry, Mint, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.       

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Dark Red Berries & Cherries, Floral Perfume, Salted Meat or Beef Broth, Cigar Box, Leather, Tobacco, Orange, Peach and a hint of Espresso.    

 

Palate:

The Alcohol is quite strong and attacks your throat in a rather Sharp and Dirty but not really unpleasant way. This Auchroisk really needs Water though. The Palate is mainly Sweet but with a few Bitter tones for balance. The cask influence is very strong.

Main Flavours:

Toasted and Malted Barley, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots, Sultanas & Figs, Dark Red Berries & Cherries, Mixed Salted Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Menthol.        

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Dark Honey, Vanilla, Orange, Yeast, Slivovitz, Molasses, Leather, Tobacco, Floral Perfume, Beef Broth, Licorice and strong Espresso.  

Finish:

Quite Long. This one definitively needs a little Water. The Alcohol really burns in your throat. Bitter-Sweet & very Dry. Strong cask influence. I find Toasted Barley, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Figs, Plums and Apricots, Dark Red Berries and Cherries, Caramel, Dusty Oak, Mixed Nuts & Nutshells, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Tobacco, Honey, Orange, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Menthol, Licorice, Metal and Strong Espresso.  

Drinking Advice:

I added quite a lot of Water to this Auchroisk. In fact probably a record quantity of 4 tea spoons. It's still quite noticeable on the Nose though. It is a relatively Young Malt after all. The Palate becomes almost "palatable". The overall profile does not change a lot although it becomes a bit more Malty and quite Spicy. You should try it out both ways but it's more enjoyable after adding Water.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - 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: Young and Strong but Interesting.

Conclusion:

Auchroisk was founded in 1972 by Justerini & Brooks and became part of Diageo in 1997. The annual production arounds to 5.8 million litres. Almost all of it goes into the Diageo blends. The only official bottling is the 10 Year old Flora & Fauna.

Brachadair is a family-based Belgian independent bottler. Patrick Vanderlinden and his nephews Cedric and Alexander run the business.

This Auchroisk is not for the faint of heart. The combination of a relatively Young Single Malt and a very high ABV might be too much for many. Even with a lot of added Water the general feeling of Young, Strong, Dirty and Sharp remains. IMO the ABV is too high and a 2nd Fill cask would probably have been a better choice for this young Auchroisk. Still it's way more interesting than today's Mainstream Malt Madness and that helps in my final score. I would not buy a full bottle but I enjoyed tasting the sample.

Cheers 🥃 

Jan                                                                                       January 19, 2025  

                                                                                             

Linkwood 1997 (Brachadair)

“Raspberry Beret” 

Whisky Review # 1039

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Linkwood 1997

Bottled By: Brachadair, Belgium in October 2016 - 120 Bottles - Cask # 10646

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky

Age: 19 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 52.6% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead

Chill Filtration: No 

Price Average: US$ 140 (Oktober 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 👍 Very Fruity Bourbon-Matured Speyside Malt

Color:

Pale White Wine/Straw (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please give this Linkwood some time in the glass before nosing and avoid to nose in the middle of your glass. The Nose is quite Fruity and not very Oaky leading me to the conclusion that Cask # 10646 was not a very active one. Besides Fruit you will also find quite a few Malty, Yeasty and Grassy notes. The Alcohol is noticeable.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Yeast, Grass and Straw, Banana Ice-Cream, Green Apple, Pear, Strawberry-Flavored Yogurt, Fruit Flavored Candies like Peach, Lemon, Melon and Pineapple, Cinnamon and Ginger.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Bread, Dough, Caramel, Sugared Almonds, Nougat, Marzipan, Dusty Oak, Earth, Fresh Herbs, Orange, Raspberry, Mint and light Licorice.    

Palate:

Oily, Waxy, quite Fruity and Bitter-Sweet-Sour. The Alcohol remains noticeable but other than that it's quite agreeable.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Wax, Vanilla, Sugared Almonds,  Grass & Straw, Strawberry and Raspberry flavored Yogurt, Fruit Flavored Candies (Lemon, Melon, Pineapple, Green Apple, Orange), Cinnamon, Pepper and Nutmeg.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Caramel, Papaya Cream, Bounty Bars, Butter, Floral Soap, Dusty Oak, Ginger, Cloves, Menthol, Aniseed, Cardamom and Licorice.   

Finish:

Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and quite Fruity. Some Sour notes as well. The Alcohol bites a little bit towards the Medium Dry end. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Grass & Straw, Wax, Fruit-Flavored Candies (Melon, Green Apple, Lemon & Orange), Limoncello, Strawberry-flavored Yogurt,  Floral Soap, Grapefruit Juice, Raspberry, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Menthol, Aniseed and Licorice.  

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Linkwood although it diminishes the Heat of course. I prefer it neat though.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2) 

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - 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 Linkwood distillery is located in Elgin & was founded in 1821 by Peter Brown. Their Spirit has always been an important part of many Blended Whiskies. The only official core bottling is the 12 Year old Flora and Fauna. There are many independent bottlings around like the one I am reviewing today. The average production amounts to around 4 million litres per year. Linkwood is owned by the Diageo Group.

I can understand that the Fruity distillery-character attracts the makers of Blends like Bell's, Haig and White Horse. It's a pity though that almost all of the Linkwood production is destined for these Blends. In my opinion it's authentic enough to be able to shine as a Single Malt as well, especially when paired to first class Ex-Bourbon casks. Because I do feel that the cask used for this Brachadair expression could have been a bit more active. Nevertheless I will certainly be on the look-out for other independent Linkwood Malts.

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                   Oktober 31, 2024

Strathmill 2006 (Signatory Vintage)

“Dark Side of the Malt”

Whisky Review # 1037

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Strathmill 2006 - Distilled on 24-10-2006

Bottled By: Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Company on 12-11-2020

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # 7 - 689 Bottles

Age: 14 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 61% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Sherry Butts with 11 Months Fresh Sherry Butt Finish

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 100-115 (October 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay
Buying Advice: 😐 Oloroso fans will love it but it's a bit one-sided for me

Colour: Mahogany/Brown (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The ABV is very high so I would advise you to refrain from Nosing in the middle of your glass. The Sherry influence is strong as was to be expected. This Strathmill is loaded with Dark and Earthy notes. It's quite Sweet with a few Sour notes in the background. I detect a bit of Sulphur as well. I'm also not too fond of the Varnish and New Oak notes. There are lots of notes and hints to be found but I would not rate the Nose as complex as practically all Aromas are linked to Sherry.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Resin, Dried Fruit like Plums, Raisins, Figs and Prunes, Dark Berries & Cherries, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Orange, Grass and Straw, Musty (New) Oak, Varnish, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg and Mint.

    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Nougat, Floral Perfume, Red Apple, Lemon, Cassis Liqueur, Dusty Earth, Sour Grapefruit, Dried Herbs, Tobacco, Rubber, Gas Station, Leather, Ginger, Cardamon and Cinnamon.

Palate:

On the Palate this Strathmill feels Younger than its Stated Age. The Alcohol is very strong and makes the Tasting a bit of a Rough ride. The Palate is a mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes and is quite Dry.

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Treacle, Demerara Sugar, Dried Fruit like Apricots, Raisins, Figs and Plums, Dark Red Fruit, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Grass and Straw, Resin, Dusty Earth, Dark Espresso, Wood Polish, Oak, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cloves and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Nougat, Red Apple, Sour Cherries, Cassis Liqueur, Tobacco, Leather, Floral Perfume, Wet Pebbles, Grapefruit, Orange, Rum, Licorice, Aniseed, Ginger, Cinnamon and Menthol.

Finish:

Middle-Long and mainly Sweet. Developing Bitter and Sour notes towards the very Dry end. The Alcohol is quite strong. I find Malted Barley, Caramel, Vanilla, Grass and Straw, Treacle, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Plums, Sour Dark Cherries, Cassis Liqueur, Orange, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Strong Black Tea/Espresso, Resin, Dusty Earth, Oak, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves & Cinnamon. After a while your mouth feels like you've been licking an Ashtray. And the Varnish is back as well.

Drinking Advice:

Adding Water is a must in this case. The Alcohol is simply too strong. The Water not only controls the Alcohol but also enhances the Fruit on the Nose. Some nice Nectarine and Apricot notes are revealed this way. On the Palate the Spirit gets more approachable. The Finish gets more Oak, Spices and additional Bitterness. In this case however I strongly advise you to add Water. Thanks to the added Water I have increased the final Rating with 0.5 points.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 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 and 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: A challenge due to the very high ABV. 

Conclusion:

The Strathmill distillery was founded in 1891 in Keith and is a part of the Diageo group since 1997. Almost all of the production of around 2 million litres is used for the J&B and Spey Royal Blends. Unfortunately for Diageo the demand for the J&B Blend has declined over the years and it can be expected that the distillery will focus a bit more on Single Malts as well in the future. For the time being the only official bottling is the 12 Year old Flora & Fauna. In 2014 a 25 Year old Special limited release was launched.

The 14 Years I am reviewing today is part of the Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection. It's not a bad Single Malt but it's super heavy on the (Oloroso) Sherry. That's great if you like that of course but to me it's a bit one-sided. And then there's the very high ABV. I can take a bit of heat but in this case it's really just too strong. It needs added water to enjoy. To sum it up, some people will love this Strathmill and others won't. Have a good look at the Aroma and Flavour profile to make sure you would go for a full bottle of this Dark Side of the Malt.👹

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                    October 17, 2024

Caol Ila 2009 (James Eadie)

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”

Whisky Review # 1034

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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

Price Range: US$ 90-105 (September 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay

Buying Advice: 👍 Very pleasant Young and slightly Hot Islay Malt

Color:

Yellow Gold (Natural Colour)

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                              September 26, 2024