Comments on: Diageo Special Releases 2009: Caol Ila Unpeated 10 year

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:38:06 +0000

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the comment! Great notes in your blog post, too. Caol Ila DE was one of my biggest disappointments this year. I really love Caol Ila in general, and I enjoy the Talisker and Lagavulin DEs very much. Unfortunately, the CI DE seemed to lose all of its Caol Ila-ness in the process of the wine finishing. After a few sips, all I could taste was the wine finish itself!

By: Paul R. Potts

Paul R. Potts — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:03:33 +0000

I’m happy to see this whisky getting some attention — I think it is fantastic, and just reviewed it myself. I was disappointed with recent bottles of Caol Ila 12 and the Distiller’s Edition, but this one restores my faith in Caol Ila. Just so clean and rock-candy-like! That makes it sound too sweet, but the sugars are quite “burnt” and nutty like the toasted pecans on a pecan pie, and that keeps it from being too cloying. It really is a great example of how flavor isn’t always all about old whiskies, and Islay isn’t always about peat!

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:49:21 +0000

Thanks for the comment Lawrence! I didn’t buy any backup bottles, and don’t have much of mine left. Maybe there will be some extra allocation for the U.S and we’ll get a few bottles here in AZ later in the season. Glad to hear you’re able to grab a couple of backups.

By: lawrence b

lawrence b — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:46:07 +0000

It’s as flavorful as any of the tasting notes suggest. I like the full strength… something about getting older makes the taste buds require a stronger tang, but I think I’d like the clean taste at regular strength. It’s brandy for adults I described it once. Amazing tones, overtones, hints for something that was single cask.

I’ll be back!

BTW, it’s hit Ann Arbor. But, as I type this, I’m making plans to buy two more bottles. Don’t want to risk any of you hitting my favorite scotch-monger before I get the chance to stock up.

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:12:47 +0000

Well, Tim…hopefully everybody has the luxury of rating based on THEIR enjoyment. I promise any ratings I give are just an attempt to share how I like whiskies relative to others I’ve tried. I don’t believe in “universal” ratings.

Although…I’m starting to lose track of some of my own ratings. I’m going to post a Google App spreadsheet with my ratings so that I can keep track of them.

Who knows, once I’ve tried enough whiskies, I might need to reset my scale. I tried to leave some room at the top when I got started.

Those are some great whiskies you mentioned for your top tier! I really want to try the Laphroaig 25, but the price is so out there.

We’ve talked about it before, but we seem to have very similar tastes. So…when are you going to start your own blog so I can keep track and discover some new goodies to try?

Thanks,
Jeff

By: Tim D

Tim D — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:19:25 +0000

I’ve had a number of “better” ones – but I have the luxury of rating them based on MY enjoyment – not what other’s would expect.

In terms of what I liked better, I think the Lagavulin DE-16-21, Ardbeg Beast, Ugadail & Supernova, Talisker DE, Laphroaig 25, GlenMo Signet, a couple of older Macallens, a Signatory Caol Ila and a few others would square off with this one very nicely – or beat it.

It’s just something that rubs me the right way – probably like it did for you. I can certainly see why it only scores mid-to-upper 80′s for folks who’ve been at this longer than I have. As you noted, it’s lack of complexity can be a huge liability for long-term aficionados of scotch – because that’s what the ‘pros’ look for. But in this case, it’s just got that unique element that defies it’s simplicity and hugely appeals to my personal pallet.

Thanks for the review – I wouldn’t have worked so hard to get it had you not talked it up!

By: Last Minute Gift Ideas « Whisk(e)y Apostle

Last Minute Gift Ideas « Whisk(e)y Apostle — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:25:02 +0000

[...] to be posting their ideas for whisk(e)y related holiday gifts. While I’m hoping for some of Diageo’s Special Release Caol Ila 10yo (Unpeated), I figured it would be nice to share what some of our friends in the blogosphere are [...]

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:52:53 +0000

That’s awesome you were able to get a couple of bottles at $50 each. Congratulations!

Thanks for taking the time to share your great notes here. Good call on the Zots! I’d completely forgotten about those, but that’s a great way to describe the “fizziness” I was talking about.

So…at 93 points for this, what have you had that you would rate higher?

By: Tim D

Tim D — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:28:43 +0000

OK – I’ve got my bottle, and at $50 locally it was a steal. I’ll give away my impression by telling you I’ve wasted no time in picking up another.

I LOVE Caol Ila – and I realized that much of the taste profile I’m enamored with does NOT come from the peat! There’s an “ashen” taste that I enjoy that every CI has, and this one is no exception. The lemony/zesty and herbal appeal is all still in there. In fact it loses virtually nothing without the peat – and the high ABV and racy 10 year age goes a long way for me.

Remember the candies called Zots? Hard candy that was all citrusy and zippy, but had this almost hydrogen-peroxide like foaming center? That’s what this reminds me of. It’s utterly delicious.

I don’t know how CI takes the *same* ingredients all the other distilleries use and manage to come up with something this unique by TAKING SOMETHING AWAY that appears in the standard expression – but they did it.

Home run – a 93 from me. How weird is it that the younger the CI, the better they taste? Seems true for a number of whiskies I’ve had lately.

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:52:34 +0000

Hi Tim,
Good to see you here again. It sounds like you’re set to enjoy some good drams. Mmm…14 yr. Caol Ila.

$50 for the CI Unpeated is awesome, but the Shopper’s Vineyard price is pretty close. Especially if you can defray the shipping cost with a couple more bottles. Don’t wait too long!

I need to go through all of the comments in that WTJK post. Right now, I plan on drinking some Secret Stills 2.2 (40 year Cragganmore) and definitely some Glenfarclas 17, as it just plain tastes like Christmas.

Maybe I’ll switch to bourbon for New Year’s Eve. Jefferson’s Presidential Reserve 17 yr and William Larue Weller should hit the spot.

Have a great Holidays!
Jeff