More Caol Ila

bottled at 46% ABV; the other is the Signatory Caol Ila from the Vintage Series.

I have both, purchased about a year ago, and the UCF if clean, bright, and zesty, while the Vintage is far more plain and dullish in comparison (though I wouldn't kick it off the shower curtain). The UCF is hard to beat.

Hi Bart,

I'm with Douglas on the UCF Caol Ila, fresh and zippy, hard to beat and well priced where you can get it. I also really liked the Glenrothes UCF, better than the OB 1989 which I find somewhat dull but I completely disagree with Richard Joynson at Loch Fyne Whiskies who compares the UCF Glenrothes to the Macallan 18yo... unless he's been into some pretty poor vintages of M18 lately...

Please let us know your impressions when you have a chance.

Johanna

Thanks Douglas, Johanna,

I had the feeling when I grabbed the Glenrothes that the Caol Ila would be gone by the time I went back for it, so it may just be "Scotch missed". If it's still there next time I'm shopping I'll certainly grab the UCF. It was very reasonably priced, too.

I'm still forming my opinion of the UCF Glenrothes.

My first impression is that it's a good example of everything that's good and everything that's bad about independent bottlings. It's a single cask bottling from a sherry cask, so it has a very strong sherry profile - stronger than BB&R would give to an official bottling. Depending on how you feel about a strong sherry treatment, I can easily see someone claiming it's unbalanced and lacks the "house character".

But if you like sherried whiskies and strong flavors, it's shows a very nice kind of sherry - very dry, and full of toasted nutty flavors. Taken on it's own terms it's not an "unbalanced" whisky, but I think in vatting it would have been improved with some sweeter unsherried casks.

It had a beautiful velvety mouthfeel, and begins a little sweet, but the sherry takes over quickly and persists in the long dry finish. It seems to settle down and improve a little after 10 minutes or so in the glass. I've heard folks say that some whiskies need a little time to breathe after being poured, but this is the first time I've noticed it myself. And while it's still a gentle Speyside, I thought it was just a little peatier than is usual for Glenrothes.

While it has nothing to do with the taste, except maybe psychologically, I liked the simple label design. All in all, a very elegant whisky.

And I'm with you Johanna, I didn't notice any Macallan similarities beyond the fact that they're both sherried.

Bart

good and everything that's bad about independent bottlings.

Thanks for the notes, Bart. Mine is still up on the shelf unopened. I like sherry, but not if that is all you can taste!

The Signatory UCF every time for me, an absolute ace!

Paul>