Review #112: Caol Ila 1999/2011, 43% abv, The Whisky Trail

what is this? where did it come from?

The label says it was bottled in 2011 but it's just popped up everywhere, from what I can tell. Not a lot of other information on the label, but it looks like it was barreled with something red. The brand is from Specialty Drinks, which I think is the The Whisky Exchange house bottler, but they don't have any. It's cheap -- 44.50 at Whiskybase.

nose: has a kind of Talisker peat -- earthy and peppery -- along with some fruit candy. Eventually it opens up into some more Caol-Ila-like soot and lemon notes, but I might just be imagining that. A little bit of salt and seaweed, too. A very expressive peat and sweet nose -- it goes through a range without anything dominating.

palate: the phenols hold up ok, but becomes thin and even a tiny bit green (vegetal, hot). some fruity/spicy sweetness is there, but again, it's really thin.

finish: not much. smoky peat lingers and some residual sweetness.


This is a huge bargain even though it's taken on too much water. Whatever wine finishes they used work brilliantly with the Islay peat.

score: 84