Caol Ila 18 Year (2017 Special Release)

This was an immediate buy. It's uncommon to find a limited release from 2017, regardless of the distillery. Unpeated Caol Ila also intrigued me. I understand this is typically used in blends for Johnny Walker. 18 years old and cask strength for $100? A definite must-buy. Smell: Potent. Even for a 59.8% ABV malt. A powerful wave of cinnamon red hots and sulfur, with some baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove). This greatly fades with time in the glass, allowing other notes to emerge. Beneath that, there's some toffee, malt, honey, butterscotch, and vanilla. A sweet, bready note like a croissant or soda bread. Squeezed lime, orange peel, cucumber, and perhaps even some agave. Floral and oaky. Initially, it was too strong. But with some patience, it's actually quite enjoyable. Taste: Floral and fruity, characteristic of Highland malts. Apple, pear, and apricot are prominent. Some plum and blackberry are also present. Salted caramel, toffee, cola, and butterscotch. The citrus notes are now orange and clementine. And abundant sea salt. I usually only detect that in peated malts. This joins the Old Pulteneys as the only other Scotches where I notice that flavor. A fantastic palate. Finish: More fruit. Apple, pear, apricot, plum, blackberry. A nice continuation of the palate. More of those baking spice notes like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Salted caramel and sea salt combined. Plus a hint of sun-dried tomato. A long finish, as expected from such a substantial whisky. The 59.8% hits hard, in the best possible way. Be advised, give this adequate time to settle. It starts a bit rough, but it evolves into one of the most delightful and distinctive whiskies I've ever encountered. It begins intensely hot, but time transforms it into a whisky without equal. I reserve 5-star ratings for truly exceptional experiences. This one earns it by being completely unique, in the best way. This is a whisky for the ages. It showcases the full spectrum of Scotch. It performs as a remarkably intricate Islay and an unbelievably rich and satisfying mainland malt. You truly get the best of both worlds with this one. And for the low price of $100? I can barely find a mediocre 18-year old for that cost. And this significantly outperforms the competition. I believe I've said enough. If you appreciate whisky, purchase this immediately. And if you've ever considered Caol Ila merely an ingredient for blended Scotch, reconsider; this is the genuine article.

Finishing up my remaining unpeated Caol Ila bottles – until I find more. Aroma: This one is intricate. It's definitely salted caramels and vanilla. However, something else is happening. I detect a fruity character that the packaging now convinces me is strawberry. Oak is present only at the very end and is very subtle. Taste: Berries, gentle sweetness, intense, wow. Let's try another sip. It's strawberries, salt, and a sweet foundation that resembles toasted, neutral bread. Water brings out some vanilla and cream, but I'm still lacking something on the sweet side. This drinks well below its 59.8% ABV while still offering intense flavor and a very creamy mouthfeel. Caol Ila 18 remains a bold and commanding high ABV dram, similar to the 15, but it's a much nicer, softer, and simply superior whisky. None of these Caol Ila expressions are overly complex; instead, they are overwhelming with their intensity and genuinely great flavors. The 18 uses only American oak, unlike the 15 which uses both American and European. Perhaps that's what makes this one so much more enjoyable compared to the excessively harsh notes of the 15. I'd prefer more complexity here or a better overall profile, but it's a great whisky nonetheless. Rated 3.75 due to its high quality. The price of $125 is ideal for an 18-year-old at cask strength, despite clearly not being from the highest quality casks and being a bit of an experiment. I'll buy another if they remain available for a while.

It's confusing to find a Caol Ila with such a mild, herbal, and fruity aroma. It's warm and welcoming, with flavors of vanilla cream cake, tropical fruit (mango, peach, kiwi), fresh blossoms, and cut grass. There's a faint hint of damp wood in the background. If the aroma didn't hint at it, the alcohol's intensity on the palate is staggering, like a blast of burning shortcrust pastry that takes getting used to, allowing only citrus notes with vanilla and cinnamon to come through. It generally resists the addition of water, but I find myself needing to add some due to the significant alcohol aggressiveness, and I'm rewarded with a wider aromatic range, releasing ripe fruit (peach and banana), malt, custard, and licorice. There's a hint, barely more than a suggestion, of peat in the background. The finish is long, with cream cake, licorice, wood, and that ever-present notion of peat. If the unbalanced alcohol content weren't an issue, I would have rated it higher: when a bottler selects a specific alcohol strength for their whisky, I have to evaluate whether it suits my preference, and needing to add water is a negative for me. Still, it's an unusual and pleasing spirit, a "pretend highlander" that can't quite conceal its origins.

Neat: Nose: Very reserved at first. A whisper of malt and vanilla, and little else. Palate: A strong entry, then roasted malt takes you on an adventure with some brine, substantial honey, and distinct tartness. The conclusion is enduring, quite agreeable, and possesses a woody, buttery character. With water: Nose: The spirit expands with a dash of water. Floral and botanical notes emerge alongside a faint caramel aroma. Palate: The flavor profile remains largely unchanged but increases in intensity and impact. A touch of smoke appears mid-palate, along with a dryness typical of peat. Adding more water diminishes the complexity, increasing sweetness but also alcohol strength. Essentially, it tastes younger with increased dilution. Overall: A mature, cask-strength bourbon. It handles a fair amount of water, but likely shines around 50% ABV, offering intrigue on both the nose and palate. I miss the rich honey from prior versions, but it's still enjoyable to experiment with. (82/100) The cost is a bit excessive. I much prefer the Loch Lomond 17.

Unpeated Caol Ila?! Is this even possible? Let's investigate. First tasting neat. Aroma: The initial scent is of light smoke and brine, followed by notes of salted caramel and charred oak. Vanilla gradually emerges, with dried fruits at the back. A wonderfully fragrant aroma! Taste: Surprisingly light and fruity at first, then a burst of pepper and heat with a tender sweetness. Finish: Long, with citrus, vanilla, smoke, and a hint of bitterness. After adding a few drops of water... The aroma becomes creamier, fruitier, and sweeter. The taste is noticeably sweeter, with bitter honey and more oakiness. An outstanding aroma, easily scoring 95! The palate, while not overly complex, feels a bit lacking compared to the nose. Overall, a fantastic dram. And the price? $100 USD for a bottle – a real bargain! A highly impressive unpeated Caol Ila release!

Aroma - (neat) Intense heat, biting sweetness like apple juice, honey (diluted) reduced heat, aroma otherwise unchanged. Palate - (neat) Somewhat lacking body, astringent sensation in the mouth, spicy white pepper heat, honey with dark fruit notes (diluted) Less astringent, better proportioned dark honey flavor, more pronounced apple character. Aftertaste - (neat) Mouth-drying, dark honey, spicy white pepper heat (diluted) Reduced astringency, mild heat, honey with fruity notes. Rating - 75/100 Overall Impression - Just as anticipated, this is a marginally improved iteration of their regular peated 12-year-old expression. While this unpeated version aligns more with my preferences, it remains quite monotonous. The additional six years of aging are evident, notably in its significantly enhanced mouthfeel. The sweetness seems more sophisticated, a richer honey profile, yet it persists in its singular focus. Accept if served? - Yes Order specifically? - No Purchase a bottle? - No