Whisky: Caol Ila 11 Year (2009), Gordon & MacPhail for Broken Barrel Club

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 57.6%

Cask: Refill Bourbon Barrel

Age: 11 Year (Distilled 2009, Bottled 10 Mar. 2021)

Nose: Smoke, spice, and saltwater. Barbecue grills and ocean water called to mind a beach park barbecue with coal smoke, salty air, toasted herbs, and an underlying minerality. Hints of citrus appeared between oily grilled fish and cracked black peppercorns. Woody notes of sun-bleached driftwood, seashells, and hints of vanilla in the background.

Palate: Medium-bodied with citrus, salt, and herbs. Salty tropical margarita rims came to mind with an initial hit of sharp citrus and salt. Subtle smoke and charred wood surfaced with white pepper and herbal, occasionally medicinal, notes. Dried lemon slices and brine lingered through the finish.

Finish: Medium length with a drying citrus, salt, and driftwood.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Driftwood Margaritas

Notes: First off, let me note that a friend was involved in picking this cask from Gordon & MacPhail— though he cannot stand peated malt and did not select this specific cask, he was still engaged in the overall process. I mention this as sometimes one’s proximity to the production or selection of a whisky can influence their estimation of its qualities. I do not think it did in this instance, but it is an entanglement worth including.

I was split on this bottle. I was not terribly impressed the first time I tried it; it was a classic and pure example of Caol Ila, the standard 12 Year amped up to max volume with salty citrus and subtle herbal undercurrents. On subsequent tastings, I found that the nose had good depth with a wonderful barbecue smoke note, which I wish appeared more on the palate. The profile was a somewhat pedestrian affair for Caol Ila. It was not bad, but it did not rise above the herd of dependable and solid Caol Ila bottles, a testament to the quality of the distillate.

Overall, the coastal DNA of Caol Ila came through cleanly in this Caol Ila. It was not a bottle with many tricks, nothing perhaps to surprise, but the sharp, crisp flavor palate provided an ample illustration of what makes Caol Ila so reliably delicious.