Whisky Party

Caol Ila 12 and 18 Year

This weekend I decided to crack open the Caol Ila 12 and 18 year from my Islay Gift Collection. These are smallish, 20 cL (quarter) bottles that you can occasionally find sold separately at local liquor stores. For those in New York City, I know for a fact that Warehouse Wines and Spirits on Broadway at Astor Place has both of these bottles stored behind the counter. I think they run about $15 per bottle.

Caol Ila is not a whisky that I drink often, although it’s gradually working its way into my rotation as my experience with it grows.  I know a few people, though, who view Caol Ila 12 as their go-to Islay whisky in terms of bang-for-the-buck (normal retail price is just over $50).  I’m looking forward to this as an interesting comparison.  Both whiskies have the same ABV and are aged in the same manner, so this is a straight comparison of the exact same whisky at two very different ages.

Also, thanks to Becky for the two excellent, new glasses in the picture; great wedding gifts.

Caol Ila 12

43% Alcohol by volume

Nose: a sweet peat and smokiness upfront, as expected. It moves into a smoked-meat flavor before a refreshing scent on the tail end.  It’s not quite a fruity scent, more zesty and it comes and goes. Sometimes I can’t detect it at all behind the smoke.

Taste: Still some sweet peat, but the taste is more a dry coal smoke.  Its a big hit upfront, followed by a mild alcoholic bite.  Enough to give it character, but it’s still a pretty smooth-drinking whisky.  There seem to be some subtle flavors below the smoke, but they’re difficult to pull out.  I’m not getting much of that refreshing smell on the nose in the taste. This is a great Islay if the medicinal character of Laphroaig is a bit too much for you, and an Ardbeg is too strong on the peat.

Caol Ila 18

43% Alcohol by volume

Nose: Some sweet peat smell but far less than the 12 year.  There is a floral character to the 18 year that reminds me somewhat of the nose on a Rosebank 19 year I once tried.  The difference is that the Rosebank is cloying to my nose, this is well-balanced and adds an interesting complexity.  No coal smoke at all on the nose.

Taste: The coal smoke returns but it’s mellower than the 12 year (to be expected after 6 more years in the barrel).  The floral character is sprinkled throughout, intermixing with the smoke.  Neither one really dominates and its a good thing.  One the final sip, there’s a hint of chocolate in the middle.

Overall: These are both great scotches and I’d happily recommend either.  The 12 year is a much bigger scotch with a lot of punch.  It’s just a really great, drinkable islay – heavy on the smoke, no medicinal character.  It could be a good session whisky.  The 18 year is more complex.  It’s a more subtle dram to enjoy slowly with friends.  Unfortunately the 18 year old is hard to find, so if you are in NYC, I’d drop by Warehouse to pick up a bottle before they are gone.

Other Opinions:

Caol Ila 12:

• Scotch Hobbyist finds it more mild than I did, but enjoyable.  He also thinks that refreshing scent on the nose is lemons and a peppery flavor that I didn’t detect at all.
• Whisky For Everyone calls it “a decent alternative to the more famous” islay whiskies.
• Scotch Chix call it “the ideal introduction to peat.”
• Here’s a David Broom/Michael Jackson head to head.
• Five reviews from the Whisky-Distilleries site.
• A head to head match up from Ruben at Whisky Notes.

Caol Ila 18:

• Scotch Hobbyist seems to find this considerably less enjoyable than I did, saying that the floral notes are distracting, and tasting a “mustiness” on the finish.
• Our own Dodgydrammer finds similar chocolate notes.
• Another Jackson/Broom head to head.

I pulled a couple of my favorites from the bar for a comparison.  Both Island whiskies (Caol Ila from Islay and Talisker from Skye), both nicely peated, and both priced around $70, these are two very different whiskies.

Caol Ila OB 18 year

ABV: 43%
Color: pure gold
Legs: med-large beads, med-slow roll
Nose: ocean notes, soft peat, cream & dark berries, pine, and a touch of smoke
Palate: almonds and a light, crisp smokeyness floating above malt and sawdust, with some muddled sweetness mixing in at the middle
Body: just slightly oily, rounded, med-full without being weighty
Finish: very “smooth” and fairly long with cocoa notes developing and lasting; a touch of warmth develops at the very end
Overall: beginning on the nose with maritime characteristics and on the palate with refined (if restrained) peat smoke, this dram is pleasant to the end.  Well balanced and well rounded.
Score: 8.8/10

Talisker OB 18 year

ABV: 45.8%
Color: slightly-bronzed gold
Legs: med-large beads, slow drop
Nose: cherries, cherry cough syrup (ie, medicinal), chocolates, some orange, and a little gun smoke
Palate: plums and smoked wood, then pepper and more gun smoke, with hints of vanilla and butterscotch candy
Body: full bodied and textured
Finish: med-long and warm, you feel it all over; the smoke persists
Overall: I, personally, don’t find this sweeter on the palette than the OB 10 year; in fact, I feel that it has developed the sharper elements of Talisker rather than the sweet notes.  Maybe thats just me.  Love the sustained attack of the smoke with the pepper.  The nose was delightful, with intense sweet, smokey, and medicinal characteristics.
Score: 9.0/10

The “big” island feel of the Talisker seems to have won out over the soft, balanced, and mellowed elements of the Caol Ila.  Both are awesome, both are very fairly priced (CI: $74; Tali: $69), and neither is particularly easy to find on shelves.  Whichever one is stocked near you, get it and enjoy it.