Caol Ila Distillers Edition

Blair Athol Distillery, Thursday, April 25th 2024. Whisky #6 Nose: Wood-smoke, coal embers, cinnamon, honey-soaked apricot, peach nectar and ginger, all smelled against the aroma of low-tide on a pebble seashore. Palate: Smoke and buttery caramel fudge are the first flavours on the arrival, followed immediately by sea-salt. The sweet wine comes forward in the development but in no way derails the palate, instead adding a blanketing honeyed, fruity aspect that is very agreeable. The texture is both maritime-dry and slightly oily. Finish: Medium. Spicy toffee, iodine, brine and a touch of mint licorice in the aftertaste. Caol Ila Distiller’s Edition used to be issued as a 12 year-old age-statement batch product, however since 2022 it has been a regularly produced NAS (I'd guess it is now vatted from whiskies with an average age of around 12 years, but that the minimum age dips below 12). I don't know why this was done but it could be that it was one of the more popular of the annual Diageo Distiller’s Editions (and the only explicitly peated one), so they decided to market it as a core-range bottling, which demanded some elasticity in the vatting. The nose has very much the classic Caol Ila distillate character but with added warm, sweet fruitiness, which feels entirely appropriate. The palate is similarly sweetened and fruity. I can’t imagine this expression being turned down by anyone who enjoys sweet-wine finished peated whisky, and it’s even relatively well priced and not hard to find. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

(Double Matured in Moscatel Oak Wood: Distilled 2006/Bottled In 2017). Perhaps, there is a legitimate reason to say that this particular version of Distillers' Edition is quite clear and comprehensible in a way of its intentions but it still is enjoyable as hell. Perfectly balanced, powerful, yet quite opposite to fierceful in terms of peat and smoke. To the nose: apart from the strong general peatiness, iodine, smoke and medicinal tones there are many pleasing upper notes of ripe tropical fruits, sweet citruses, lemon pie, lollipops, yellow pear, peach jam; and also quite a few spicy nuances which include cinnamon, cardamom, a little bit of vanilla and ginger. To the palate: smoky ashes again, light citruses, phenolic notes quickly fade to some secondary tones of bursting spices like cayenne pepper and heavy fruits; light but pronounced honey and caramel in the background, Juicy Fruit bubblegum. The aftertaste develops much through time and lasts long enough to highlight its perks once again: bold peat, light malty/grain bitterness, citruses, raisins, many spices like cloves, nutmeg, anise and cinnamon, unused oak. To sum up, CIDE appears to be a gentle and delicate whisky in a sense. Probably all due to the post-Moscatel oak barrels, what makes him versatile and light (comparing it to sherry-finished Islay whiskies).

The color is golden yellow, unfortunately artificially obtained. The sense of smell is unusually sweet for a Caol Ila, rich in raisins, marzipan, cinnamon and honey in rivers, so as to almost hide the smoke of Islay, overwhelmed by this pastry cook. The wine has left a very decisive mark, a pity not to know how much the whisky has been exposed to. The entrance to the palate still sees the smoke elbowing to emerge from the cake, and after a few moments finally climbs onto the podium, however keeping the honey in which it is immersed. The same hints of the nose burn on the lit fireplace, with the addition of a little candied fruit and a touch of salinity, which gradually bring to the background leaving ample space for the peat, which wears the sweet duster with a lot of nonchalance. The marriage is not very successful, the vinous influence is there but after the initial explosion it becomes little more than a tinsel. In the not very long finish the ash and a spicy touch remain, the Moscatel seems to have returned to Spain a little disappointed: he had come to matare and it was matado.

Stephanie's pro review pretty much nails it for me. It's Caol Ila, but softer, smoother and sweeter. It omits the fresh grass and lemon oil notes from the nose and palate of the 12yr, substituting honey and pear and closing with an apple turnover. Smoke is also more prevalent than the 12yr, but never approaches the level of the 3 amigos on the south Islay coast. This is a very nice cask finish, and I wish there were more out there for me to try. But it's not what I want when I go to Caol Ila, and for that reason it won't be replacing the 12yr as my standard-bearer. If you can find it, you should absolutely try it because it is a nice twist on a solid foundation. And maybe you won't miss the lemon-pledged rocking chair on a beach that for me defines this distillery. Either way; Sláinte!

Caol Ila Workshop Scottish distillery Peated Islay Whiskeys This past Thursday, 7/11, whiskey specialist PJota Tomé led a beautiful workshop at the headquarters of ABS Minas (Brazilian Association of Sommeliers) on Islay peat produced by the Scottish distillery Caol Ila. ABS Minas partner, Ingá mineral water, kept all participants very well hydrated. In a blind tasting, peated examples of 4 different single malts and 1 guest blended malt were tasted. Aged in Muscatel wine barrels, and after the sensorial analysis of all the whiskeys, in a close vote, this Single Malt was chosen as the second in the competition tied with 12th years. Congratulations to the participants for their performance in the race and congratulations to PJota for organizing this incredible event

Moscatel is a sweet dessert wine, so this wood finish should nicely add to the mineral and peaty nature of the Caol Ila spirit. The nose reveals whiffs of firewood and embers, enriched by pronounced spices, maple syrup and seaweed. Peppermint, apricots and fresh ginger appear. On the palate, aromatic and sour notes blossom whilst briny peat smoke and a sugary overcoat round off the picture. Bitter tea, licorice and grapefruit zest accompany the earthy and slightly dry finish. Giving a twist on the Caol Ila theme, this Distillers Edition is very decent. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]