Peaty and Delicious!

**Woodsheal** · 17th April 12, 11:22 AM

Had never heard of it, but the other day spotted and purchased a bottle of "Caol Ila" 12-year-old single malt. Like all of the Islay whiskies it's quite smokey - and quite a fine dram! Give it a try if you see it....

**LitTrog** · 17th April 12, 11:33 AM

Knowing my enjoyment of Laphroiag and Lagavulin, my mama-in-law bought me a bottle of Caol Ila for my birthday a couple years ago. Now one of my favorites!

**Piipriker** · 17th April 12, 01:10 PM

Caol Ila is nice stuff, I have a bottle of a 23 years old. Single cask in cask strength. A bottling of a german vendor I bought last year at a Whisky fair.

**celt72** · 17th April 12, 01:48 PM

It is my favorite single malt along with the Laphroaig quarter cask. I understand that Caol Isla is one of the whiskeys that gets blended into making the Johnnie Walker Green Label.

**turpin** · 17th April 12, 01:54 PM

I've always enjoyed Caol Ila and Lagavulin but for the price the Laphroiag is still the standard of comparison. Speaking of smoky peaty malt, has anyone else tried Old Ballantruan? It's not a "vintage" whisky but certainly has a decent percentage of the older malts. It's made in Tomintoul but you's swear it was a very nice Islay, and at $35 a bottel one of the best values I've found.

**Piipriker** · 17th April 12, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by turpin

I've always enjoyed Caol Ila and Lagavulin but for the price the Laphroiag is still the standard of comparison. Speaking of smoky peaty malt, has anyone else tried Old Ballantruan? It's not a "vintage" whisky but certainly has a decent percentage of the older malts. It's made in Tomintoul but you's swear it was a very nice Islay, and at $35 a bottel one of the best values I've found.

thanks for the tip. On the weekend next week is again the Whisky Festival in a neighboring town. I'll have a lookout for it.

**English Bloke** · 17th April 12, 04:51 PM

"Caol Ila" 12 is a beaut. It's peaty but not too peaty, and doesn't bring about the sensory deprivation brought on by Ardbeg (Not saying Ardbeg isn't lovely too in it's own way, it's just not the same.) It's pronounced as 'kul-eela' incidentally, it's Gaelic for the 'Sound of Islay', as in the strip of water between Islay and Jura that the Distillery faces onto. The 18 if you can find it / stretch to it, is also a cracker. Fine whiskies both.

**ForresterModern** · 17th April 12, 05:01 PM

Caol Ila is a very nice bottling, very full bodied flavorful with a long lingering finish. Not in my top ten but still well above average, and this from a guy not particularly fond of Islays in general.

**Singlemalt** · 17th April 12, 05:07 PM

Not tried it but as someone who loves Islay malts you have made me very curious. I will seek out a bottle and report back.

**RayMc** · 17th April 12, 05:25 PM

I am very partial to a 12 yr. Islay called Bunnahabhain, although the standard one is nice also. I really love the smoky, peaty character of the Islay whiskys. In fact, they are pretty much all I drink, although I don't want to ignore the chance to experience water of life from other regions. I take Bunnahabhain to mean "good haven, or good harbor." It has a ship's captain at the wheel on the label.