Caol Ila 15 Year 2000 (2016 Special Release)

Another rare find from Caol Ila. Last time I did the 2017 18-year old release; now I've got this 15 year from 2016. Like the 18, this is unpeated and bottled at cask strength. At 61.5%, this is sure to be a heavy hitter. Nose: Malty and buttery. Apple, pear, apricot, and floral notes. Some lime and orange citrus. Vanilla and caramel. Sugar cookie. Almond, walnut, and a nice dose of oak. No ethanol; the only tell of the high ABV is a few prickly baking spice notes. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. Palate: More of the buttery and malty notes. Cashew, tossted almond, and walnut. Macadamia as well. Cola and plum. Orange and lime reappear from the nose. Vanilla and caramel. Chinese pear. Coconut. Ginger snaps and sugar cookie. Finish: Apple, pear, apricot, lime, and orange. Cola and plum. Ginger snaps. Fruit notes turn into waves of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Long as they come. Solid whisky. It has many of the characteristics I traditionally find in unpeated cask strength Scotches--Islay or otherwise. This one especially shines on the finish, which is long and layered. I do prefer the depth I find in the 18. At $140, this cost $40 more than the 18. Both bottles were purchased several years after they were released, so I think I'm lucky to have found either. I'm going to look to much into the prices. Bottom line is that this is a solid whiskey. 4.25/5. Three months later, I am adding cola, plum, and white grape to the nose. This one just pops more than before on the nose, palate, and finish. It is remarkably tame considering the gargantuan ABV,—and when I say tame, I mean refined, not subdued. Bumped up from 4.25 to 4.5.

I've seen this as high at 180 bucks. I bought it on clearance for 100. Is it worth it at either price? 61.5% unpeated Caol Ila. Nose - first off the alcohol on the nose is really hard to get past. Salted vanilla and young oak. There isn't alot of sweet notes. The Stitchell Reserve which I last reviewed was so sweet and inviting, this is dry and a bit off putting due to the alcohol notes. Water (COLD water) tames the alcohol and brings out more of the salty notes and a touch of caramel maybe...it's more sweet oak I think. Taste - Oak and vanilla and islay salted malt seem to really be at issue here. Fighting each other and ending with oak bitter notes. Water brings out more salt, oak spice, hard to enjoy levels of spice. More water and that spice fades a hair but the heat and alcohol don't. It's creamy still, there's that caol ila malt which I'm a fan boy for but everything here is off putting, out of place, and the alcohol and wood are off. This is bold stuff folks. I don't want to say anything too negatives as I'm influenced by their simply FAR better examples of unpeated whisky. Still, this one is very much unrefined and harsh. This will appeal to a lot of people mind you. I'm going to however have to score it a 1.5. Most whisky drinkers won't enjoy the heat and aggressive nature of this. It just isn't a good example of unpeated cask strength Caol Ila. 150-180 is the normal price range and at that, it's a HUGE pass. I paid 100 and at that price, the high abv makes it a much more reasonable splurge. I'm not happy with it however even at that price.

One of my favorite things about Caol Ila is the combination of heather and smoke. A lot gets dished out on the aroma. Mmmm. Grilled peaches and plantains. A cool combination of earthy and tropical. The palate is phenolic with smoke and menthol mint being fairly prominent. Dry citrus towards the back with a big soot and smoke finish. Well done.

I am a sucker for cask strength whiskies. I generally prefer mine prayed, but this is really good. Piercingly pure, intense, balanced.

Nice fruit note strong alcool but not overpowering in the mouth add splash of water and hit a brand new sample to taste

Strong, complex, sweet, caramel. Chocolate, spicy, hot, and nice. A very good whisky. Heats up in your mouth