Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2003 – Small Batch
Islay single malt scotch whisky
46% ABV, £75 for 70cl
Score: 86/100
What they say:
Distilled in 2003 at the Caol Ila distillery on Islay and aged for 10 years in Bourbon Hogsheads before producing 738 bottles at 46%
Nose: Initially sweet, then wet ash comes through. Quite oily, lots of sage and then some limey notes.
Palate: Soft ashy notes, Lots of creamy lemon notes, some basil and more wet ash.
Finish: Dry ash, quite flinty with a growing creaminess.
What I say:
The final dram #5 at the WOLS Return to Drammage tasting on 15th January 2015
From Wm Cadenhead’s small batch range is this 10 year old Caol Ila expression, matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon hogsheads.
Colour:
Light gold with medium tears
Nose:
Vanilla custard, peaty peanut, swimming pool/chlorine, sea spray coated rocks in the sunshine at the beach
Taste:
Vanilla ice cream, cereal barley, sea salt and lemon oil, rosemary, peaty ash
Finish:
Medium long gentle peat with vanilla cream
Overall:
Delicious, this one split the room of WOLS tasters (as per usual for a peaty dram). Unusually I found myself really enjoying this Caol Ila expression – mostly as I associate the peaty influence with cigarette ash/smoke, however in this one it was much more restrained. Strangely one of our tasters who was a big Caol Ila fan and found he liked this one a lot less than he thought he would!
