Caol Ila 1979 30 Year Old Cask #4415 Berry Bros & Rudd

Caol Ila 12 Year Old

Color: straw. Nose: sweet and juicy pit-smoked barbecue, olive oil and herbs, pine needles, and just an edge of antiseptic harshness. Body: light and oily. Palate: sweet, smoky, meaty, and woody. Honey roasted peanuts and peppered jerky. This reminds me a lot of the Lagavulin 16, if a little less balanced and distinct. Not quite as smooth or...

Score 90/100

Caol Ila Smoky Scot

Aceo Ltd is the company that took over Murray McDavid from Mark Reynier at the moment the Bruichladdich Distillery was sold off. They now release this 5 Year Old malt that listens to the name Smoky Scot and is very affordable: not even 40 EUR. They are happy to disclose that it’s a Caol Ila that matured on bourbon casks for five years. The nose...

Score 85/100

Caol Ila 1998 Distillers Edition

This edition is distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2011. Nose: Chocolate covered raisins, beer, bitter citrus zest. Baked orchard fruit and cloves. Pencil shavings and sweet BBQ. There's a slight solvent edge that is both unfortunate and deceiving considering how easy-drinking this whisky is. The nose isn't as bright and fresh as the standard...

Score 86/100

Caol Ila Gordon & Macphail Private Collection 2001 Hermitage Finish

Bottled 2015, one of G&M’s private editions where they decided to try finishing Caol Ila in a Hermitage Cask. Having never tried hermitage wine, I thought it would be a fun adventure. Batch size of 3600 bottles. Nose: Sweet and fruity (think strawberry jam fruity) smoke. Islay brine. It’s a relatively heavy nose but yet it seems to have...

Score 89/100