A straightforward Caol Ila with a lot of sherry influence but not that much nuance. In fact it is a bit simple for an 18yo bottle in this price range. The cask is obviously of good quality and I do enjoy this style of whisky, but somehow I expected a bit more since this bottle's community score isn't that far from the 25yo G&M cask 12495, which is IMO way better. I tasted both along with a few other drams several times and 12495 always comes out on top by several notches. [edit] I will walk my words back a bit and give it +1. The reason is I found a really great place to be with this whisky when I added what I thought was too much water. At the point where the whisky is close to or has just developed highland mist, there is a special place where the peat starts to take the back seat and you get this amazing taste of chocolate sauce backed by the Caol Ila soot. I still feel the price is too steep.
Oily, fruits, pepper, then smoke, dry, a little lemon
Финиш
—
Dry smoke, ash, oak.
LeChiffreConnoisseur9003 dec 2023 5:12 pm
Quite straightforward, fleshy, smoky and dark fruity Caol Ila from nose to finish with no off notes. But it's all very tasty, powerful and not boring either. The sherry cask contributed to the aroma profile here and didn't overwhelm the malt. A very successful Caol Ila with a noticeable but well integrated influence from the sherry cask.
нос · вкус · финиш
Нос
90
meaty-smoky; smoked bacon; maritime influences; earthy-mineral notes; some tar/ash; sweet red fruits; also some fresh citrus notes; some bitter herbal notes; Oak spice
Вкус
90
powerful; powerful; bitter spicy and sweet notes in a beautiful interplay; dark fruits; Pepper; spicy notes; tart oak spice; ashy, tarry smoke
Финиш
89
spicy; black pepper; accompanying dark fruit notes; tart oak; Smoke from cold campfire
moer_d_oeghExpert Senior8723 dec 2023 10:04 pm
Very little Caol Ila character, huge PX influence. Did not feel like 18yo either.
whisky_alphabetConnoisseur9012 dec 2024 6:17 pm
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
Dram_WhiskyConnoisseur9023 dec 2023 10:47 am
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
pianomanConnoisseur8703 jan 2025 4:46 pm
нос · вкус · финиш
Нос
—
Hot barbecue smoke, burnt lemon. Apricots, raisins. Copper wire. A little honey and charred toast.
Very successful Caol Ila. A little different than the other bottlings. The smell is a little less distillery style as far as the smoke is concerned, more of the meaty Ballechin note, but more barrel influence but perfectly balanced. The refill was probably not too worn out yet. The smell is more like that of modern sherry casks. Very nutty, very spicy but not woody but rather dominated by spices. A salty, maritime breeze spreads at the end. Meaty campfire notes of fried bacon On the palate there is more cold smoke, less fleshy. You hardly notice the 58.4% dark smoke. The finish leaves a long spiciness with strong charcoal smoke
valasiosConnoisseur8825 jul 2026 10:06 am
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
HlektrionConnoisseur9001 aug 2026 11:09 am
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
slimbomaniaMember Senior9003 dec 2023 7:57 pm
...What LeChiffre says... star pupil Caol Ila, refill sherry as you are used to from G&M. If Diageo ever comes up with the completely crazy idea and wants to release an 18-year-old cask strength as an original bottling, it would be advisable to first seek advice from Gordon & MacPhail.
bartekfmConnoisseur9004 may 2024 12:41 am
Sour, dry version. It almost felt like Port. Classy and well aged Caol Ila.
HammerHeadConnoisseur8930 sep 2024 9:53 pm
Very good, but could have been great with a little more subtle sherry influence for better balance between peat and fruit notes.
нос · вкус · финиш
Нос
89
Typical BBQ, meaty, salty, mustardy and savory Coal Ila notes combined with a huge sherry overcoat, making this initially a bit of an a-typical Caol Ila. Loads of sweet blue- and blackberries, cherries, jamminess, lemony citrus, toffee, fudge, milk chocolate and salty caramel notes. Also maple syrup, treacle, apple syrup, cinnamon and gingery spices.
Вкус
89
Big and bold, very sweet and fruity, berries, cherries, fruit preserve, apple syrup, sweet citrus, toffee, salty caramel, maple syrup, sweet chocolate. The peatiness presents itself as savory notes: earthy, sweet soy sauce, the pure smokiness is completey buried under the sherry influence. Spicy in the development with red liquorice, leather, cinnamon, clove, charcoal and hot peppers.
Финиш
88
Long: sweet and syrupy red fruits, jam, sweet liquorice, dark chocolate, black tea, jasmine, leather, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, ash, charred wood.
mrecho7Expert Senior8823 dec 2023 12:51 am
JBKwbConnoisseur8924 nov 2024 8:33 pm
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 89
Rosebank88Connoisseur9018 sep 2025 1:29 pm
нос · вкус · финиш
Нос
89
It begins wonderfully salty, herbaceous, and tincture-like. Valerian, gentle peat smoke, leather, smoked fish, old fishing nets, oak, hot tar, and lovely maritime notes. With water, it becomes oilier and nuttier, with salted nuts, peat smoke, smoked fish, salt, olives, leather, glazed ham, and tart herbal notes.
Вкус
91
Smoky, salty, and wonderfully teasing. Smoldering peat smoke, bracken, pepper, ash, leather, sherry, salt, nuts, glazed ham, and smoked fish. With water: salty, peat smoke, pepper, bitter herbal notes, sherry, herbal tinctures, ash, and smoked fish. Truly an excellent combination!
Финиш
91
Long, smoky, salty, sherry-like, oak, anchovies, olives and smoke
MaltsofIslayExpert Senior8828 mar 2026 7:21 pm
нос 89 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
stalker1971Expert Senior9017 mar 2024 3:03 pm
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 89
rvangerwen29Connoisseur8921 mar 2025 11:30 pm
нос 90 · вкус 89 · финиш 89
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