2 Caol Ila's

Caol Ila, Signatory Vintage, 11 yrs (1996-2007), 43%, 769 bottles.
Color: White wine. Nose: Slightly ammonia, rubbery, seaweed, briny, salty, inner tubes of bicycle tires, glue. Taste: Strong stuff, very peppery start, smoky with some medicinal notes. Sweetish with cream but sour with apples. Strange combination though. Overall lighter then expected. Aftertaste: Slightly smoky, not that long as you would expect from the nose, quite an unusual acidic aftertaste with sour apples and sweets. Score: 79. Remarks: A bit disappointing I must admit. But still way above average!


Caol Ila, Signatory Vintage, Unchillfiltered Collection, 10 yrs (1998-2008), 46%, 849 bottles.
Color: Applejuice. Nose: There's more in this glass then there was in the previous one. Will the 46% matter that much? Wet rocks near the ocean, flowery, roses, some salt, some pepper, dutch liquorice, wet earth, citrusfruits as well. Taste: Smoky explosions, stronger then the first Caol Ila, it tastes more like tar, well bodied with medicinal notes and lot's of pepper! Aftertaste: Strong lasting finish with some peaty notes, very warming, some nice liquorice at the end to finish this example of how a Caol Ila should be. Score: 85. Remarks: Can I have another one of this? Yes, the one at 46% please.