Whisky: Caol Ila 25 Year

Country/Region: Scotland/Islay

ABV: 43%

Cask: Oak

Age: 25 Years

Nose: Maritime with sweet smoke, soft salt and dissolved minerals, coastal rust and coal dust, mellow earth and dried grass, heather and coastal vegetation, hints of lime and guava in the background.

Palate: Light-bodied and oily, mellow salinity and weathered oak, dried grass and coastal vegetation, driftwood, curing tobacco leaves, hints of citrus and tropical fruits toward the end, more dissolved minerals and earth, sweet and slightly acrid smoke always in the background.

Finish: Long and lingering with coastal salt and earth, subtle dried grass.

Score: 7

Mental Image: Drafting Class on the Dunes

Narrative & Notes: The aroma was pungent, the finish long, and even the palate, while a touch quiet, had a lovely oily quality. Despite attenuating this malt to 43%, it had plenty of stage presence with a beautifully soft maritime and earthiness— coastal dunes for miles. The wife pinpointed it more as Chinese barbecue and black sugar bans— a slightly different set of memories for caramelized sugars and smoke.

Occasionally, the woody notes of weathered oak or driftwood were slightly bitter. However, I always felt I was experiencing them through a fuzzy lens, so they appeared soft and mild enough to never distract from the experience. The whisky needed no water, but a few drops brought out more citrus fruit and tamped down on the wood.

Historically, this has been one of the most affordable core 25-year products from an Islay distillery by some measure. It is not quite the bargain it once was— and your mileage may vary as to whether it ever was one— but it remains the most affordable mature Islay. Even though it is not cask strength, I think it holds its own against the Laphroaig 25 Year and some of the commiserate Bowmore. Generally, those are better whiskies, but on a price/quality scale, the Caol Ila comes out on top.

Overall, dependable and drinkable; a lovely malt for a special occasion or to get over the Wednesday hump.

Image Credit: Malts.com