• Join, for peat' sake

    • caol ila 12 year old

    Caol Ila 12 Year Old 88
    Distillery
    Caol Ila
    Style
    Single Malt
    Release
    Unspecified
    Age
    12 Years
    Alcohol
    43% abv.
    Region
    Scotland, Islay
    Bottled For
    Distillery

    A brand new, younger bottling of this malt which has been an Oddbins favourite for many years. Not the heaviest of the Islay clan, but certainly one of the most beguiling.

    review by wtl.base

    86
    Color
    Straw.
    Nose
    Light and floral. Peat and fresh smoke, some young vegetables.
    Body
    Medium.
    Palate
    Malt, dried apricot, a touch of fresh melon and a waff of peat. Great balance and a very clean feel.
    Finish
    Gentle peat and smoke. Exceptionally dry.

    Compared to some other Islay malts of comparable age this one needs extra time and quiet or else its subtleties could easily be lost. Incidentally, I prefer this expression to the 18 yo for its freshness.

    review by anonymous

    84
    Color
    Avslagen folköl
    Nose
    Aska!
    Body
    Varm aksha, bränner i halsen,
    Palate
    Skogsbrand!
    Finish
    Efterånga, det ångar liksom upp i gommen.

    Now we're off to to play pool! Love M

    review by anonymous

    93
    Color
    translucent white wine
    Nose
    grass, laundry basket. citrus peel, barn, malt
    Body
    oily and delicate.
    Palate
    malt, carrot cake, sugar,grain, peat.
    Finish
    nice rise & expanding plateau Roller coasters into a splash of peat.

    A lot of taste. Light, overall a good dram.

    review by coloradodram

    85
    Color
    Light chardonnay.
    Nose
    Light smoke, honey, wet refined sugar, slightly floral.
    Body
    Light bodied, crisp and tight. Definitely a deviation from some the oily/creamy Islays.
    Palate
    Bitter smoke, peppery sweet. An exercise in contrasts. Evens out with a touch of water and also gains some complexity.
    Finish
    Medium length, medium hot. Flavor-wise a nice spicy peppery tingle permeates the mouth and a dry licorice/anise breath follows. The finish is this scotch's place to shine.

    If you like smokey Islays like I do, this a good reminder why. A few drops of water and some patience provide a more balanced (and complex) taste and more peppery finish while not squelching the nice licorice afterbreath.

    review by frombeyond

    87
    Color
    light straw
    Nose
    citrus, fish, green olive,smoke peat, medicine etc...
    Body
    full and slightly oily
    Palate
    smoke and salt
    Finish
    long finish with more salt and nice dryness

    Not as complex as I was hoping for, but very nice. If you love salt and smoke, you'll love this dram. However, there are better scotches like Bowmore 12 yr and Laphroig 10 yr that rival this at a cheeper price

    review by williamson

    90
    Color
    White port
    Nose
    Penetrating aroma of iodine, hospital, salmon and bacon.
    Body
    Thick, oily.
    Palate
    Salty bacon, medicinal flavors, a hint of flowers and oak. Warm and, in a good way, demanding. Much peat, barbecue and more iodine.
    Finish
    Long finish, passing gently.

    This isn't Dostojewski, and it itsn't Stephen King either. This is everyone's friend, a worthy dram to say the least.

    review by eddie

    90
    Color
    White Wine
    Nose
    Smoke, peat and more Smoke and then Seaweed also the smell of the sea coast after a storm.
    Body
    Full Rich and oily.
    Palate
    This ones not easy, Smoked Fish, toffee a little Barley and sweet Spice. also the taste of buttered veggies.
    Finish
    Long, Sweet Smoky, very Good

    This one suprised me, Most comments were average, middle of the road, but I found it different. A lot of flavors and they changed often. First taste a lotta smoke and then the sea came in then Smoked kippers Salt. sweet candy, barley grass and then ten minutes later sweet, salt, floral. This one was very complex for me but I did like it alot but then I love the Islands. (Especially ISLAY.)