Caol Ila 18

Oh, very nice! And as the oldest of the three official bottlings it is the most complex and smooth and sweet one.

But then again, that's just why I personally prefer both the 12 yo and the CS over the 18. They may be simpler, but has more peaty smokiness and tar, and more punch (especially the CS of course). With this style, less sweetness is also a pluss in my opinion.

Gunnar

"bp" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@enews1.newsguy.com...

I taste it as a "silky" dram. It's flavors are more tightly woven than the younger expressions. I find that it rarely, if ever, needs water to open up. Nice with a pipe full of an Oriental blend.

I have an unopened bottle I am waiting to taste. I loved the 15 but I only have a cm left :-(

I've never tried Caol Ila but it's name has always attracted me. Very strange name. I'm going to have to pick up a bottle. It's an Islay, so how different is it compared to Ardbeg 10? Ardbeg 10 is the only Islay scotch I have tasted so far in my short scotch tasting career.

Did you like the Ardbeg 10?

If you did, various expressions of Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Talisker (not technically an Islay, but definitely related), Bowmore and Caol Ila await you.

No special order, although if you check back here and report what you liked and why you liked it, you'll get some informed advice as to where to turn next.

I've tasted only a couple of variations on Caol Ila -- it's not widely available where I live -- but it definitely belongs in that company.

If any or all of these seem a little extreme to your palate, you may want to sample the Bruichladdich [1] and/or the Bunnahbain.

I envy you your journey.

bill

[1] There's a Bruichladdich expression called Octomore somewhere in the pipeline, and if you should come across it, be sure that peat agrees with you before proceeding.

This has been posted in the past but it is a great site to bookmark for those that haven't seen it before, or for those that can't remember how to pronounce "Coo Li-la" (Caol Ila). I use it quite often.

Taking a moment's reflection, DaveS mused: | | This has been posted in the past but it is a great site to bookmark for | those that haven't seen it before, or for those that can't remember how to | pronounce "Coo Li-la" (Caol Ila). I use it quite often. | |

I think you're breaking down the syllables a bit too much. That site, the speaker runs it together, but it's pronounced more like "cool eye-la" ... "coo li-la" presents the wrong cadence to my ears. ;-)

You could be correct. I can hear it both ways to be honest. In any case, I'd guess that regardless of how it is stated (at least here in the U.S. and specifically in Florida) it will make little difference. The average person will look at you with a dumb look on his/her face if you ask for it because they wont have a clue what your asking for. Best that you simply go look and see if they have it on the shelf!

I love Caol Ila, I find it has a unique oily flavour alongside the typical Islay peat.

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You know best, obviously. I merely thought Caol would rhyme on gaol? But then, I'm just a furriner. :-) Anders

Uzytkownik "bp" napisal:

[snip!]

Well, it's not so much disappointment in it as a fine dram in itself, but it seems to me that the new (if you can still refer to them as 'new', having been on the market since 2002) Caol Ila's seem to be unnecessarily drifting south, towards Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg in their flavour profile. Unnecessarily, in my opinion, because there already are fine Laprhoaigs, Lagavulins and Ardbegs. The old, F&F version of Caol Ila was far more complex than any of the 'new' OB range, much more subtle and delicate, which is what I loved it for. The 'new' lineup is great in its own right, only a far cry from the once great subtle, complex, wonderfully balanced 15yo F&F. Just my three cents.

Cheers, Rajmund

Believe it means "Sound of Islay".

/Nygaard

Taking a moment's reflection, DaveS mused: | | You could be correct. I can hear it both ways to be honest. In any case, | I'd guess that regardless of how it is stated (at least here in the U.S. | and specifically in Florida) it will make little difference. The average | person will look at you with a dumb look on his/her face if you ask for | it because they wont have a clue what your asking for. Best that you | simply go look and see if they have it on the shelf!

Agreed. I remember the first time in the States I asked if a local shop had either Bruichladdich or Bunnahabhain in stock ... ;-)