Caol Ila Live Tasting - April 19, 2008

[Ganga]

Although we don't get the full fledge tasting setup Matt provides, here is our starting point. I have a couple of Caol Ila samples. First is Caol Ila 1990 13 yo, Signatory 46%.

[Ryguy]

Thanks Ganga, this will still work well for everyone.

I'm limited with my bottles of Caol Ila right now, but I'm starting with SMWS Cask # 53.108 Caol Ila 10yr @ 59.9% ABV.

[Ganga]

Ok, I'll go with you Ryan.

[Ryguy]

Here goes......Edited because I couldn't get the tasting note thingy working......


SMWS Cask # 53.108 Caol Ila 10yr @ 59.9% ABV
Glass: Glencairn
Hints of soap, and malty, with lots of fresh sea air on the nose. This one starts extremely sweet, and then it just grabs you and explodes on the palate. Very medicinal, with some fruity notes, then becomes spicy, with a long finish that reminds me of a barbeque.

Unfortunately this bottle is almost empty. But this is by far the best expression of Caol Ila that I've ever had. I have had the 12 OB, 18OB, and a dram of a G&M bottling; I think it was a 19yo (it was at a tasting, I don't remember exactly which one it was). I'm sure once I explore my newly opened 53.109 more, I'll really enjoy that as well. I have really grown to appreciate Caol Ila, thanks to 53.108.

[Ganga]

Caol Ila 10 yo #1
Brand : SWMS Expression : Cask 53.108
Nose : Fruity (fruit salad?), peaty, some oak, malty Palate : Oily, oaky char (good thing), iodine Finish : lingering oakiness and oiliness Comment : Good contrast between the nose and palate. Colour : Dark Straw Score : 76
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 59.9% Bottler : SWMS	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : No Ice : No Glass : Glencairn Notes : Sample from Ryan
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Spirit of Islay]

Started a wee bit earlier with a few O.B.'s , all are very oily , here are the notes so far.......

Expression - 15yo Floral & Forna O.B.
Age - 15yo
ABV -43%
Colour - Polished Gold
Nose - Very Weak , Slight Medicinal , Smoke .
Palate - Again Slight Medicinal , seaweed , sea air .
Finish - Long and pepperminty .
Comment - Oily in the Glass , Still very disappointing and weak compared to I.B. Caol Ilas .

Expression - 12yo O.B.
Age - 12yo
ABV -43%
Colour - Pale Gold
Nose - Touch Medicinal , peat at first but seems to fade , Islay Seashore .
Palate - Light on the palate , at first , damp peat , the iodine just scrapes through .
Finish - medium finish with a slight pepperiness .
Comment - Again Oily but still a major disappointment this one , can't get away with it at all , weak compared to others ?

Expression - 18yo O.B.
Age - 18yo
ABV -43%
Colour - Greeny Gold
Nose - Grassy with a touch of peat smoke .
Palate - Doesn't taste like a Caol Ila , more like a weak Talisker , a wee bit of white pepper , all the medicinal is gone by this age .
Finish - Medium to long finish , very warming , Humbugs ?
Comment - Not really a bad dram , balanced , decent enough but not one of my Favourites .

Expression - Cask strength O.B.
Age - 10yo?
ABV -55%
Colour - Pale Straw .
Nose - Takes a little while to open up but when it does....... Peat , smoke , Seashore , the old Bonfire on the beach , Germolene (medicinal) .
Palate - Very Complex , Peat , creamy fudge , touch of fruit , Almost like an Ardbeg Still Young !
Finish - Long , warming , Medicinal , creamy , peaty.......
Comment - Wow ! a step up from the 12 and 18 , very enjoyable , a "proper" Coal Ila !

Expression - Natural Cask Strength O.B.
Age - 10yo?
ABV - 59.3%
Colour - Pale Straw
Nose - Nose tingling , pure hospital , medicinal ! Grassy with it .
Palate - Peat , smoke , seashore iodine , not as creamy as the previous version .
Finish - Incredibly long , hot finish . Peppery , right at the last moment - slight immature finish compared to the last one ..
Comment - Not as balanced as the "Cask Strength" but the extra strength gives it a bit more of a kick .

Expression - Natural Cask Strength 25yo O.B.
Age - 1978 25yo
ABV - 59.4
Colour - Polished Gold .
Nose - Really , Really Medicinal , Germolene (antiseptic) , a touch of Smoke lingers there as well .
Palate - Wonderful , Really powerful , peppery , spicy , iodine . Yeehaa!
Finish - Not as long as the previous one , very warming , peppery .
Comment - Why aren't the 12 and 18yo like this one , probably one of the best O.B.'s Ever !

[Ganga]

This is really good. I'm sure I will like this more as I go through the glasses.

[Ganga]

Nice little set Gordon. BTW, I would have had a really hard time starting much earlier.

[Ryguy]

This is really good. I'm sure I will like this more as I go through the glasses.

Still on the 53.108?? I absolutely love it. Of course it's my first Caol Ila at Cask Strength, so that could really have something to do with it. But this bottle, I'm realllllly going to miss.

[Ganga]

Yes, I split the sample to four glasses. I can understand your missing this bottle.

[Ryguy]

Nice set of notes Gordon. I started a bit earlier as well, to gather my thoughts and notes.

[Ryguy]

Yes, I split the sample to four glasses. I can understand your missing this bottle.

I went to buy another bottle, but they were all gone.

Oh well, you snooze you lose I guess.

[Ryguy]

ob 12 yo 43%
G&M Connoisseurs 1981, 16yo 40%
SMWS 53.37 1980 18 yo 61.1%

I have a few others but not supposed to be opening new bottles yet. Will that willpower last tonight? Possibly not

Nick open another, why not? It's been a while since you've opened a new bottle I'm sure. Just do it!!

[Ganga]

Caol Ila 10 yo #2
Brand : SWMS Expression : Cask 53.108
Nose : Fruity (melons), oily/sovents, very light malts, mint candy Palate : Rich oily, oakiness. A bit of dk chocolate Finish : Just kind of sits there with a oily/peatiness. Comment : - Colour : Dark Straw Score : 77
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 59.9% Bottler : SWMS	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : No Ice : No Glass : Sm Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Spirit of Islay]

Next one.......
Expression - Rare Malt Selection
Age - 1975 21yo
ABV - 61.3%
Colour - Polished Gold
Nose - Not as pronounced as the 25yo , but still peat (damp) , iodine , smoke .
Palate - Peppery , iodine
Finish - Again long warming with Humbugs and peppermint .
Comment - A bit relaxed for over 60% , actually tastes better with a wee drop of water .

[Ryguy]

I can't help but love the mouth feel of this stuff. I could chew it over and over. The finish just lasts forever. I'm now on the hunt for more young and zesty Caol Ila.

[Ryguy]

Sample #1

SMWS Cask # 53.109 Caol Ila 15yr 54.5% ABV

Glass: Glencairn
Maritime notes, also hints of a campfire on the nose. This one starts really smooth and sweet. Then becomes salty, with iodine, tastes of seashells, saltwater with a hint of campfire smoke in the finish. At first tasted neat, then about ½ way through the dram I added a couple drops of water. This seemed to calm it way down, too much for me. But I couldn't help but notice the smell of smoked bacon on the nose!

This is my first dram from this newly opened bottle. Much different from the previous Caol Ila 10yr Cask 53.108. More tame, but still has all of the excellent traits that I love in Caol Ila!

[Ryguy]

I've never been great on tasting notes, but the more I read other peoples notes, and the more I taste things it seems to become easier.

Nick you said "2 or three minutes later I'm now getting a fishy and spicy finish" and now that you mention it, spicy smokey fish is what I get alot with Caol Ila. Just couldn't explain it I guess.

[Ganga]

Caol Ila 10 yo #3
Brand : SWMS Expression : Cask 53.108
Nose : Lemons (?), melons, straw and grains, wee bit of an ocean breeze Palate : Malty, charred oak, candy canes, salty, iodine Finish : Long and relaxing. The candy cane is just playing a game with the oaky char. Comment : Definitely a good representation. Colour : Dark Straw Score : 78
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 59.9% Bottler : SWMS	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : No Ice : No Glass : Ardbeg Noser Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ryguy]

Ganga I'm really glad you're enjoying the sample!

No mikeymad yet eh?

[Ganga]

Caol Ila 10 yo #4
Brand : SWMS Expression : Cask 53.108
Nose : In your face maltiness, hints of lemon, some light melon, seaweed Palate : Oaky char, lemons, iodine/seawater, oily/creosote or something along those lines Finish : Long. Palate flavors coming back in a receding like the waves upon the shore. Comment : - Colour : Dark Straw Score : 80
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 59.9% Bottler : SWMS	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : No Ice : No Glass : Celtic Malts Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Spirit of Islay]

Last of the O.b.'s

Expression - Natural Cask Strength 25yo O.B.
Age - 1979 25yo
ABV - 58.4%
Colour - Gold
Nose - Very Maritime , not as peaty as the first 25yo , sweetness seems to be present (icing sugar ) , also a touch vegetation (grass etc) .
Palate -on the palate the Medicinal comes through , huge dryness , slight lemon citric , pepper .
Finish - Long and very warming , hot and peppery .
Comment - Cracking Dram , stays with you for a long time !

Now the choice I.b. or SMWS ?

[Ganga]

A huge thanks to Ryan for the sample of Caol Ila.

Mikey has a b-day party to attend. He was going to try to make it here before going but I don't think that is going to happen.

[Ganga]

SWMS.

[Ryguy]

I have a b-day party later as well, that's why I'm on now. May be back later in the evening, we'll see.

Definitely SMWS Gordon!

[Ganga]

Combined up the last bits from all the glasses and added some water. Candy cane and now some mintiness (crushed), heathery/grassy, some lemons but the melons are gone. Palate is a little more mellow but coats the tongue better and lingers longer with more spiciness. Definitely two thumbs up from this peanut gallery.

Thinking about this one a little more, there is a creamy-butteriness to this as well.

[Ryguy]

A huge thanks to Ryan for the sample of Caol Ila.

You are very welcome! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I liked reading your notes.

[Sherried Malt]

Don't think I'll be able to make this one, guys. Things are going to hell in a handbasket, so why waste good whisky that way?

Have a great time everyone!

[Ganga]

SM, sorry it isn't working out for you but please add in your thoughts as time permits.

[Ganga]

Just throwing on a little music. Missing Persons again.

[Ryguy]

Sample #2

SMWS Cask # 53.109 Caol Ila 15yr 54.5% ABV

Glass: Snifter
I'm using my largest snifter here, and there is lots of stuff going on with the nose. First of all it's much stronger than with the Glencairn. Hints of soapsuds, gusts of sea breeze, diesel engine smoke, and saltiness. This starts fairly sweet with salt and iodine, and saltwater. Long oily finish that lasts in your mouth forever. And after Nick mentioned smoked fish, I can't help but taste this as well (in a good way).

[Spirit of Islay]

OK SMWS then , back to the very beginning , the one that converted me.......

Expression - SMWS 53.50
Age - 1993 7yo
ABV - 62.1%
Colour - Pale Straw .
Nose - This tickles the hairs in your nose , Dramatically Phenolic , phenols running riot , Germolene (antiseptic) , peat , peat , peat...... Oh and smokiness !
Palate - Wow ! Creamy peatiness , then more peat and just for good luck another dollop !
Finish - Long , Warming and very smooth.......and Peaty !
Comment - The Dram which made me a Caol Ila-eritte , wonderful for such a young-un .

[Dram fine idea]

Hi folks

Sorry I'm late.

Cheers
Steve

[Ganga]

I'd volunteer to help you Nick. We just need to find a way to transport whisky via the NET.

[Ryguy]

G&M CC 1981 16yo 40%

This bottles nearly gone so I may try it again later - free up a space to open another CI tonight?

See, you've even got yourself convinced it's the right thing to do!