Caol Ila Live Tasting - April 19, 2008

[Dram fine idea]

Hi Ryan
53.109 - sounds like a nice dram you have there.
Dram #2 is back to its best without any water.
Enjoy
Steve

[Ryguy]

Yes, but we use whole numbers. So a decision must be made as to 5 or 6. There is a little more freedom here to express where exactly that "5" is.

That makes sense, thanks for the explanation.

[Ryguy]

Hi Ryan
53.109 - sounds like a nice dram you have there.
Dram #2 is back to its best without any water.
Enjoy
Steve

Yes, and yours sounds very nice as well.
Cheers!

[Dram fine idea]

Hi Nick
How long have you had 53.37?
Steve

[Ganga]

Caol Ila 13 yo #4
Brand : Caol Ila Expression : 1990 13 yo
Nose : Sweet oiliness (not quite diesel, light malt and straw Palate : pleasant peatiness and oiliness, hints of dk chocolate and lemons, iodine Finish : Long and warming. a little bit of spiciness Comment : - Colour : Light Straw Score : 54
Age : 13 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 46% Bottler : Signatory	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.

[Ryguy]

Cheers Everyone! I have a party to attend and I have to step away for a while. Possibly be back later with the all nighters!

I really enjoyed this!

[Ganga]

Do tell Nick? And did you open that new bottle...YET.

[Ganga]

Enjoying a dram of the Glenfarclas 11 yo for Travesero. Wonderful. I still think I'm being a little influenced by the CIs as I'm getting a wonderful little smoked bacon in the background of all the sherriness.

[Dram fine idea]

I have now torn myself away from dram 2 and moved on to number 3

Dram 3 - Douglas Laing Old & Rare Bottled for the Whisky Shop, Caol Ila 28 yo 54.2%, distilled Feb 79, bottled Sept 07, 261 bottles

Nose - Old friend peat smoke, but also a candy sweetness (new for me) and a definite mint character. Enticing. No nose prickle. I'm enjoying the nose!
Taste - If I must(joke), oaky like you'd expect (distinguishing, not unpleasant), peat coming through, then a salty character which really gets me salivating
Finish - Gentle, warming, spices lingering, very pleasant and soothing indeed, touch of cleansing and cooling peppermint at the death once the peat smoke has had its say
Comment - Superb. 10/10 on the Ganga scale. Whisky for the major gods.
I will sleep very well tonight having met this friend!

[Ganga]

DFI, that sounded like a lovely whisky. I kind of like the minty/candy cane/peppermint that I've been finding in the Caol Ilas.

Made my own vatting: a'bunadh batch 11 with Laphroaig 10 (43%). Very interesting. I'll get back to you on this.

[Dram fine idea]

Hi Nick

Yes, it's a belter. I usually like CI quite young (8-12) but this one really has opened my eyes. Only available at The Whisky Shop chain. I only have a wee sample, full bottle probably about £150

Lucky me, I know and I give thanks to the whisky gods for being so kind to me!

Steve

[Ganga]

Now there is a good man, giving homage to the Wisky Gods.

[Ganga]

Very interesting little vatting. The Aberlour sherry casks come through way up front: sweet, caramel, fruity. The you get the Laphroaig: medicinal, peaty, smokey for the finish. The spiciness fromt he Aberlour is mostly eaten up but there is just a hint on the tail end of the finish.

[Dram fine idea]

Hi Ganga

Thanks for your reply - very interesting vatting. My previous experience of an older whisky was Glenury Royal (31 year old from Signatory) - the oak dominated and put me off older whiskies. In this CI it is there but not overbearing.

Slange
Steve

[Ganga]

Yes and know. There are certainly aspects that remind me of Caol Ila. I find it more representative of the Sig Dumpy sherry casked Ardbegs.

[Ganga]

I've go four glasses

And they're all empty

Need to go in search of a whisky.

[Dram fine idea]

Hi Ganga

"Now there is a good man, giving homage to the Wisky Gods."

I find it important to give praise where it is due, amen to that!

Steve

[Dram fine idea]

That's me for the night, I've enjoyed contributing to the forum, a very enjoyable experience, certainly enjoyed my drams

Take care, till the next time (keep on dramming)
Steve

[Ganga]

Thank you for the contributions. And remember to vote for next months tasting. Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Macallan.

[Ganga]

So long as someone shows up, it is worth the effort.

So I say thank you for coming and contributing and also your welcome.

[Ryguy]

Great job indeed Ganga, thanks for the effort put forth monthly to organize the tastings. I really enjoyed this!

[blawder]

Damn. I finally get here and all the brits and scots are asleep and the yanks are... well... doing whatever we do.

[Ras Mazunga]

I forgot about the tasting, fell asleep very early. Will read the thread now, hope you had a nice time.
Anybody in for a retasting tonight?

Just read the thread and it look like a very nice tasting, I missed something!

[Dram fine idea]

Hi Ganga

Thanks very much for the effort put into organising last night's tasting - much appreciated. I have voted Macallan for next month, chosen Friday 16, second choice would be Sat 17, but all dates should be good for me.

Cheers
DFI

[Matt2]

Sorry everyone, I didn't get back in time to set this up and no time to get samples. I will do better for the next one .... But it looks like you all had a good evening anyway.

[Willie JJ]

Bloody typical that I'm away the weekend that we do one of my favourite malts. Spent Saturday night in the company of my family watching an Elvis impersonator.

He was good and we had great fun, but I'd rather have been here. I took a hip flask of the 64.9% unpeated CI so that I could be with you in spirit though. Ah well, next time.

[Ryguy]

Willie JJ, you were missed.

Hopefully we'll see you for next months tasting!!

[TheTross]

Yeah, I also missed this one unfortunately - second successive time I've dipped out on the live tastings! . Oh well, I'll hopefully be around for the next one - especially if it turns out to be Lagavulin...

[blawder]

And for all my excitement... and purchase of 12yo and 18yo... I was called away BOTH NIGHTS... still enjoying the malts, though.

Looking forward to next month...