Name: Caol Ila 12
Color: Light yellow
Nose: Peat, smoke, iodine, sea salt, lemon
Taste: Oak, peat/smoke, citrus, flowers, pepper
Caol Ila 12 is produced by the Caol Ila Distillery in Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay. The distillery was founded in 1846 and has changed ownership over the years and is now owned by Diageo (this will be important in a minute). Pronounced “Cull Eela” which means “Sound of Islay” this single malt is bottled at 43% abv and is lighter than Laphroaig 10 and less complex than Lagavulin 16.
The peat and wood taste are a bit different than other Islay scotches, but it is in the same ballpark and there was something familiar about this scotch. Every once and while when I am sampling a whisky and it seems familiar, but I cannot put my finger on it. After some research on this scotch I discovered that what Caol Ila scotch that is not used for their bottles ends up being put into Johnnie Walker….surprise! And no surprise, it is owned by Diageo. I sampled JW Black and Caol Ila 12 side by side. There is a very strong similarity on the nose and taste, but the peat overpowers so you have to search for it.
Caol Ila is what it “is” and that is overpriced Johnnie Walker Black plus 35 ppm peat. I found it to be ok. I assume it was produced to grab some of the Islay market. For the money I spend on this bottle and a few dollars more I could have gotten Lagavulin.
Priced around $70 it is overpriced for what you get in the bottle.
If you like it, drink it! – Christopher
If you like it, drink it!
