Caol Ila

DISTILLERY BOTTLINGS

	Caol Ila - 8 year old - 43% Distilled in 1997 and bottled in 2005. 12.990 bottles worldwide. Cask: First fill Bourbon Oak Colour: Nose: Fresh, simple and clean; no trace of smoke. Vibrant and tingling, with stewed apple sauce and a hint of toast, then new-mown grass, almond, dried lime peel and marzipan. In time, freshly grated ginger and bananas. Water makes it more overtly grassy, almost herbal with a fruity character, moving towards light antiseptic with a trace of soft toffee. Palate: Unexpected impact. Hot, smoky, concentrated and sweet at natural strength. Fragrant, with immediate drying grass, herbs, cut flowers and crisp fruits. A hint of char. With water, the oiliness shows through, the fruit becomes sweet pineapple and lychees and there is balancing acidity and salt: all the primary tastes are displayed to advantage. Finish: A touch of oak, with sesame seed. Very clean.
	Caol Ila - 12 year old - 43% Colour: Pale straw. Nose: Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and dentist's mouthwash. A fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke. A little water raises almond oil and old-fashioned oilskins; still a fresh fruitiness (lychees?), a trace of olive oil, and after a while pot pourri or scented hand-soap. Palate: Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish. Smooth, pleasant mouth-feel; with water light acidity, some salt and still the sweeter notes. A complex balance of primary tastes. Finish: Sweet smokiness in the lingering, slightly sour finish.
	Caol Ila - 18 year old - 43% Colour: Pale straw. Nose: Palate: The taste starts a little sweeter than the 12-year-old. Very pleasant, light-flavoured smokiness. A complex balance of primary tastes. Finish: Sweet-smokey, lingering finish.
	Caol Ila - 25 year old - 59,4% Colour: Bright full gold. Nose: Palate: Sweetly floral, pine nuts, honey, medicinal and very maritime. Acidity and saltiness, with some centre palate fizz. Wicker chairs and embrocation. Finish: Plenty of smoke in the medium to long finish, leaving a lingering, dry, barbecue aftertaste. Sustained and mustardy.
	Caol Ila - Cask Strength - 55% Colour: Very pale straw. Nose: Palate: Strong, clean, assertive in flavour, with a smooth, lightly sweet start. Finish: A medium length salt/smoky finish.

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM DEWAR RATTRAY

	Caol Ila 1991 - 15 year old - 56,7% Cask No. 743. Limited to 315 bottles. Cask: Bourbon. Colour: Mid gold. Nose: Intense peat. Medicinal and rich. Palate: A potent animal. Immense peat. Engaging and voracious. Finish:
	Caol Ila 1982 - 25 year old - 62,5% Cask No. 744. Limited to 236 bottles. Cask: Bourbon. Colour: Auburn. Nose: Restrained smoke. Medicinal and rich. Palate: Sweet initially leading to hints of gentle oak. Fruit pastilles. Finish: Surprisingly intricate with subtle smokiness.

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM GORDON & MACPHAIL

	Caol Ila 1995 - Marsala Finish - Private Collection - 45% Limited to 1200 bottles. Cask: American oak casks followed by 22 months in Marsala casks. Colour: Mustard gold. Nose: Sweet, fruity - cherries and peaches. Strong underlying Islay character - bonfire embers, birchwood and earthy spices. Palate: Sweet with an intial explosion of peat smoke. Mellows to give spices - peppery, charred wood and hints of ozone. Finish: Peat embers.
	Caol Ila 1994 - Connoisseurs Choice - 40% Cask: First Fill and Refill Sherry Casks. Colour: Pale gold. Nose: Peat smoke with briny and oily aromas (oiled rope). Birchwood and creosote also present. Subtle floral (Edinburgh rock) and menthol note. Palate: Rich phenols - peat embers and carbolic soap, a rounding sweetness with hints of figs and dates. The briny, sea tangle notes develop. Finish: Peaty with briny notes.
	Caol Ila 1994 - Cask Strength - 58,2% Cask: First Fill Sherry Butts. Colour: Golden brown. Nose: Sherry and dried fruit (figs and raisins) laced with smoky (bonfire embers) and herbal notes. Palate: Sweet-treacle with rich fruit flavoours and a burst of ash and peat smoke. A touch of ground coffee and hessian. Finish: Ashy with a perfumed edge.
	Caol Ila 1993 - Connoisseurs Choice - 40% Cask: First Fill and Refill Sherry Casks. Colour: Pale gold. Nose: Earthy, birchwod and creosote aromas all present. Sweet oily note - smoke cured bacon. Very subtle phenolic note. Palate: Briny, sea tangle and crushed black peppercorns. Hints of germolene and ozone. Finish: Peat smoke.
	Caol Ila 1993 - Cask Strength - 57,8% Cask: First Fill Sherry Butts. Colour: Deep, rich amber. Nose: Vanilla initially with fruit - figs and dates. Slowly the sweet, phenolic aromas develop - peppered kippers and germolene. Palate: Sweet and peppery, rich fruit and sherry elements combine with the salty/ozone Islay character. A peaty, ash note surfaces. Finish: Slightly sweet with hints of germolene and sherry.
	Caol Ila 1991 - Connoisseurs Choice - 40% Cask: Refill Sherry Casks. Colour: Pale amber. Nose: Oily with hints of kippers and creosote. Cereal notes with rounding sweet, medicinal elements. Palate: Sweet and medicinal with some floral/birch wood flavours. The smoky/peaty notes begin to build up. Finish: Slight medicinal edge.
	Caol Ila 1991 - Cask Strength - 57,4% Cask: Refill Sherry Butts. Colour: Rich gold. Nose: Sweet and fruity initially followed by tar and creosote, peppered kippers with some oily notes. Palate: Smoky, ozone, briny - sea tangle, scorched plastic, mellows out to medicinal & nutty flavours. Finish: Slightly medicinal, charred.
	Caol Ila 1990 - Connoisseurs Choice - 40% Cask: Refill Bourbon Casks. Colour: Pale yellow. Nose: Peppered kippers with a peaty, malty note and smoked ham aromas. A light fruitiness is detectable underneath. Palate: Smoky, slightly medicinal and peppery. Finish: Slight medicinal edge.
	Caol Ila 1990 - Cask Strength - 58,2% Cask: Colour: Nose: Palate: Finish:
	Caol Ila 1988 - Connoisseurs Choice - 40% Cask: Refill Sherry Casks. Colour: Straw. Nose: Medicinal with salty/briny notes, also a fruity element - red berries. Palate: Ash, creosote and peppered kippers. A sweetness slowly develops. Finish: Salty with a smoky/ashy edge.
	Caol Ila 1969 - Private Collection - 45% Cask: Refill Sherry Hogshead. Colour: Golden brown. Nose: Sweet sherry notes with peaty and ozone aromas and hints of herbal notes. Palate: Salty, ozone driftwood flavours with sweet elements slowly developing with sherry notes. Finish: Peat smoke with a touch of sherry.