Review 004 : Caol Ila 12 Year Old

Back in 1846 Hector Henderson founded Caol Ila on the North Coast of Islay and is located near Pork Asking. Its name is derived from the Gaelic “Sound of Islay”, and if you close your eyes as you sip you can almost hear the waves lapping at the shore in this idilic part of Scotland. The water for the purpose of whisky making first travels through limestone and then peat before entering Loch Nam Ban after which it is used for making great whisky. Much of the 3.65 million litres of whisky is used in various Johnnie Walker blends and the distillery itself keeps about 5% for maturation into single malts.

This particular release was launched in June 2002 and is light and fresh with a very distinctive Caol Ila smoke. For me, I love a good Islay whisky and this certainly hits the mark with an elegant smoke that I enjoy immensely. It is quite herbal on the nose, which that distinctive oily cigar smoke. The palate had a really good body that balances an oily, tar and smoke combo that just works. Finish wise, its warm, long and a spicy smoke that holds you captivated and transports you to a roaring fire in a Scottish castle.

A really good entry bottle, reasonable prices and readily available and very much a gateway to other fine Islay malts.