Which is your Favourite Islay Distillery and Why?

@nooch, for Caol Ila, I would look for pretty much any cask strength ex-bourbon indie bottling.

@OdysseusUnbound: "I look at Caol Ila in "last" place"

That's because you forgot Bowmore!

@MadSingleMalt HA!!!! You’re right. I’ve only ever had the Bowmore 12 (if you don’t count the McClelland’s Islay). Bowmore 12 was ok. I didn’t hate it, but it was pretty forgettable. I definitely prefer Caol Ila to Bowmore.

@OdysseusUnbound laimrig is good from Bowmore, if you can get your hands on it.

@nooch Agreed. Tough to find, but a rare Bowmore winner.

@nooch Have you tried Laimrig or Tempest? I can set you up.

@Nozinan I have! Thanks. Had a bottle of laimrig iv. Thanks for the offer!

@OdysseusUnbound, you need indie Bowmores in your life.

@MadSingleMalt example?

I’m looking at an independently bottled Caol Ila right now. Expensive, but well reviewed.

In my experience, any Caol Ila is good. Usually cheap too.

@nooch I found some not too expensive IB CIs in Nova Scotia (that one is great) and in Calgary (haven't opened yet). Both CS, both G&M.

I'll stay away from making a ranking as what I drink is mainly mood dependent... but here are my two pennies worth of thinking when I pick from my Islays

• my normal 'go to' when I want something Islay intense would be Ardbeg Uigeadail. If I'm not in the mood for the additional roundness, 'full mouth' and alco strength but instead want something more 'bang, straight forward', then Ardbeg 10. If I wanted something really sweet, whilst still with Ardbeg character I'd actually buy (I don't have it yet) the An Oa - I tried it the other day and it wasn't bad. Yes, it's a departure from expectation, but that doesn't make it bad.

• If I want something with a twang of the pungy, medicinal peat, I'll go to Caol Ila. I only have the DE and it was what got me into the medicinal side of things (which I used to loathe) and I really like it, haven't tested the others. Caol Ila strikes me as the 'guy that never gets promoted' cause he doesn't have the stand-out brand whereas Ardbeg is "smokiest", Laphroaig is "peatiest" and Laga is "most venerable" - it's sad though, cause maybe Caol Ila is the hard working balanced guy that get's most elements combined right. I really like it.

• If i want more intensity on the medicinal notes than Caol Ila and just rev up the experience a bit, I go to Lagavulin. I have the DE and the 16 and like both. It's also widely available in bars and restaurants which is a benefit.

• As for Laphroaig... I acknowledge that I may very well change my opinion on this as I've done in respect to smoke & peat... but nah. I have only tried the 10, but it didn't do it for me. It felt thin, too mono-dimensional peat and 'one trick pony'. I intend to make the effort trying the QC and the PX, but no rush...

@nooch that's a tough question! But if you check the reviews of Caol Ila on Connosr (there is over 200!), I'm sure you'll find something that you like. I have posted some recent reviews less than a month ago. Check 'm out and enjoy!

@MadSingleMalt Good point. I've only had one indie Bowmore, a 15 CS by A D Rattray and it was excellent.

@markjedi1 @nooch I really have taken a liking to the distillers edition. Worth a try I’d say.

Ps: everyone seems to like to bash bowmore. I tried the 15 darkest and it wasn’t bad. Also see Victors review. Yes it’s got colour and there are islays I like much more but that doesn’t by default make it bad...

@RikS one of my (mental) issues with Caol Ila OB's is that it all just seems so mass produced. It's used fairly fairly extensively in blends and "undisclosed distillery'" indie bottles. I understand that it gets shipped to the mainland in stainless tankers, where casks are filled and it is warehoused. I know it's silly but that just all feels a bit industrial to me and loses much of the mystique I like about traditional whisky production. Please correct me if any of this is incorrect. I have enjoyed the OB Coal Ila that I've had - more than I thought that I would and I don't consider it as medicinal as Laphroaig or Lagavulin for that matter.

@Hewie I'm really not an expert, but I see what you mean. It's like the annoyances of colouring and chill filtration etc. If I ignore all that though and only focus on the taste, rather than my own need of feeling like a discerning client of beautifully crafted goods... I really enjoy it :)

@RikS yes, good call. Drink what you like because you like it :)

@Hewie I understand your reasoning for the 'industrial' feel, as Caol Ila is indeed a workhorse that produces over 4 mln liters per annum, but nevertheless, I feel Caol Ila is 'Mr Consistent' with nothing but great whisky. I have tried close to 100 and it never fails me. Do not confuse mass production with blandness, I'd say. There's quite a few distilleries that 'mass produce' but nevertheless offer beautiful single malt.

@MadSingleMalt - re. IB CS bottlings - would Port Askaig fall under that banner? I have the 100 proof lurking with intent . . .

@RianC , I haven't had that one, but I would day YES! Caol Ila is great spirit (despite the unfortunate tankering and whatnot)—it just needs to be presented at a decent proof to really shine.

@Victor I didn't see your post three months ago but here is my ranking. If I was able to get all Ardbeg line from 10 years ago, I would rate it first but now it falls to second place to Bruichladdich. This one have more misses but with the variety of their offering they have many stellar whiskies. Ardbeg is the most consistent distillery for me but they have increase the vanilla over the years and they have lost a minerality that I crave.

Then I would put Caol Ila and Lagavulin in a tie in the buttery section of Islay Whisky. Bunnnahabhain will take 5th place not because they are not great but because it is almost the Non-Islay Islay whisky ( They are almost using the sherry cask the way the Speyside distilleries are doing).

In 6th, Kilchoman. Maybe I was unlucky but I had samples that were great and convinced me to buy full bottles to end with whiskies that were very not that good. But I also had very good ones. Still, in 6th place, they are far better than many Non-Islay whiskies.

In last place, yes, Bowmore. Too many bad whikies for them. But the 2012 Laimrig was fantastic for me, the kind of whisky you hate or remember for the rest of your life.

@markjedi1 well said and I agree in theory with what you say ;)

@Robert99 Tu n’aimes pas les Laphroaig???

@Victor I just realized I forgot Laphroaig! That is because I have tried to expand my taste away from the peat. Laphroaig has followed the same path as Ardbeg. They are pleasing the crowd but not so the old fan. Back in time, I would have rate it in second place, but lately it would drop to 6th place.

Saying that is saying how volatile is my rating. To speak the truth, the most I advance in my journey, the less I tend to favor a distillery. Even is there are distilleries more consistent, I focus more on bottles. Lagavulin 12, Bunnahabhain 18, Caol Ila CS, Octomore x.3, etc. Those are the Islay I am looking for.