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Caol ila 18 Year Old

Islay oil spill

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@UisgebethaReview by @Uisgebetha

12th Sep 2014

0

  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    20
  • Finish
    20
  • Balance
    20
  • Overall
    83

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

This is possibly the oiliest whisky in the world, certainly the oiliest I’ve ever encountered. The bottle is olive green too which might colour ones impression a bit, but in the glass this is a golden coloured malt. The nose is softly peaty, no phenolic reek here, with some pine wood smoke and a hint of fresh cabbage. The mouth feel is full and oily and quite a strong alcoholic tang for a malt this age, the flavours not achingly complex, the peat is soft again interlaced with smoke. The finish continues the main themes with little change for a tolerable length. If you like the oily texture, and I for one do, it’s a good if uneventful lightly peated dram. I’d recommend anyone try the 12 year old before this though.

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3 comments

Rigmorole commented

Very interesting. I usually like oily but this doesn't sound appetizing. I like the younger independent bottlings of Caol Ila. I have a 21 indie. Hope it doesn't let me down. When Caol Ila first started branching out, it had some dynamite older stock. Not sure about now. I will go check other reviews of the 18. Thanks for your thoughts

9 years ago 0

@Uisgebetha
Uisgebetha commented

It's not a bad whisky at all, but the oilyness is it's most distinctive feature though and I probably marked it down a little because of it. I love dipping some crusty bread into extra virgin olive oil and so the oilyness does'nt bother me one bit. I hope your 21 year old is from a good cask.

9 years ago 0

zanzog commented

I think you guys are giving this whisky a lower ratings then it deserves. I am not a big fan of Islay whisky, but this one has a perfect balance between oily, peaty and honey sweet taste; the nose is fantastic. It is hard to find in the US, most liquor stores here carry only the 12 years old. I still have about a half bottle left which I have to order from Masters of malt and I plan on enjoying it for a while

9 years ago 0

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