Distillery handfills can run the gamut from excellent to disappointing, but the only opinion that matters is the person who bought them. The experience of grabbing a bottle directly from the distillery heightens the enjoyment of any bottle like this— and we’ll leave aside questions of whether the whisky was even casked or aged there, which is not the case at many large operations.  I have not always had the best luck with handfills… except of course the ones I’ve picked up myself which have that extra memory to elevate them. In those cases the whisky acts as much as a memory device, helping to resurface the excitement of travel, the taste of the air, the smell of the distillery— what better memento is there?

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Whisky: Caol Ila 10 Year (2013) Cask 2023/3 Distillery Handfill

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 55.1%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon

Age: 10 Year (Distilled 2013, Bottled 27 March 2024)

Notes: Sea and cigarettes, the aroma was maritime and sandy; somewhere between the beach and an ashtray, with herbal cigarette smoke— a bit Marlboro-like to my memory. Tropical fruits and sea food marinade lingered further in with yuzu, liquid hickory smoke, shoyu, ginger, and peppercorns. Fruits accidentally dropped in the sand and ash of a beachside grill, or the sizzle of sugary marinades on fish skin as they touch the grill. Medium-bodied on the palate, the citrusy elements came on stronger with plenty of lemon and lime instead of yuzu or pineapple. Charcoal ash and dirty grill tops remained with sand and well-used ashtrays a step back from the fruits. A few drops of water tamed some of the peppery elements around the edges and brought out even more lemony citrus, though it came with the addition of more bitterness at the end. The finish was medium-length with tobacco, ash, and sand.

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Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Beach Smoking Section

Conclusion: I found this Caol Ila a bit rough around the edges: too ashy and cigarette-like for my taste, with a bitterness at the end that water only seemed to enhance. I love tobacco notes, but not the slightly more acrid quality of cigarettes. Overall, not a bad whisky, but not one I would pour that often.