Caol Ila 12 Year Old
L1046CM000 00391605
0 486
Review by @Nock
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall86
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Bought and opened this bottle on 8/31/2011. It has been at less then half full (with no gas) for well over two years. This tasting was done June 12th of 2013 along side Talisker 10yo and Johnnie Walker Green 15yo to see what of Coal Ila and Talisker I could find in the JW Green.
Nose: Nice sweet peat. Similar tone to the JW Green but unadulterated. Peat straw; hay. This is a light peat. Wow, I am getting a little of that Ardbeg diesel thing happening. There is a nice depth here. Either the nose has grown being open this long or I really appreciate it given the present company. I really like the spice and light pepper notes. The diesel earthy peat is very present. Favorite nose of the night . . . very strange. Usually this guy leaves me wanting . . .
Taste: Nice semi-sweet peat arrival. There is hay, mint, wood, and peat. Very oily mouth feel. It almost is like a white wine. Very smooth mouth feel. Like velvet and rounded peat. Only the smallest hint of bitterness.
Finish: Full-bodied peat and earth. Oh ya, this is Islay! Leaves a charred mouth feel. The peat sucks all tastes away. Slightly woody and smoky. Very nice.
Complexity, Balance: Not the most balanced or the most complex of the night. I liked it, but only because it was the most unchecked. It seems younger then the Talisker 10yo which is odd.
Aesthetic experience: Love the Diageo bottle shape. The very simple label (no bells or whistles here). This is a simple straightforward bottle like the malt inside. If it weren’t for the big three of Islay’s south shore this would be a great peaty malt . . .
Conclusion: This is decent for what it is. It does seem like this could age for a while yet. I have given it a ton of air for over two years now. And it seems to have rounded off a bit. I would still buy Laphroaig 10yo every time before I buy this again. However, it is a very nice reference malt to keep around. I will pick it up again when this bottle is gone – if I can find it at the right price (read: under $50 not $75 like I have seen in some shops).
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I don't know how you can keep a bottle of this so long! I find I regularly have to pour a dram, as I really enjoy its maritime flavor, so it maybe lasts a few months. A sip always reminds me of trips to the beach.