Comments on: SMOS Caol Ila 1991 18 Year – Smokin’

By: Good. Food. Stories. » Celebrating the Cocktail with Post Prohibition

Good. Food. Stories. » Celebrating the Cocktail with Post Prohibition — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:31:33 +0000

[...] I seem to be sneaking Caol Ila scotch into cocktails a lot lately for its [...]

By: howdow

howdow — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:26:29 +0000

Janmac,

You can make a “Special Liquor Order” at any state-owned liquor store. You pay half up front and the balance when the bottle arrives. I just did and the price is reasonable.

Caol Ila 12yr Scotch
SKU 501840 SLO 750 ML $44.99
Diageo North America Inc

http://plcbusersgroup.org/ is the best way to search for anything and see what store has it in inventory.

The things we must do for whisky!

Slainte, How

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:12:00 +0000

Thanks for the kinds words, and welcome to the U.S.! I can’t help with Pennsylvania, but for mail order within the U.S., I’ve had good results with:

Shopper’s Vineyard: http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/store/pc/home.asp

Beltramo’s: http://www.beltramos.com

Wine&Liquor Depot: http://www.wineandliquordepot.com/distillery.htm

And if they ship to PA, then Binny’s is quite popular: http://www.binnys.com/index.cfm

Cheers,
Jeff

By: Janmac

Janmac — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:50:42 +0000

Loved the reviews. We’re big fans of Caol Illa but we just relocated to the US from Europe…. where can we buy it here (either online) or preferably somewhere in Pennsylvania? Suggestions?

Thanks

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:42:02 +0000

Thanks Michael! It sounds like we have some similar tastes. My favorite is still Laphroaig 30 year, and generally prefer CI over Ardbeg. Can’t go wrong with Lagavulin or any of the HPs either.

Oh…and sorry about the late reply. I’ve been quite negligent with the blog lately.

Cheers,
Jeff

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:53:37 +0000

Thank you for another Caol Ila review. I am one of those who put Caol Ila high on the preference list. I am glad that I am not alone

I like CI DE1996 quite a bit (have 10YO, 18YO, CS and getting 10YO Unpeated, this week).
My favorite whisky may be still Laphroaig (love 30YO and also have CS, 10YO CS and Douglas Laing 18YO).

I am one of those few who may prefer Caol Ila to Ardbeg (Airigh Nam Beist) although I like Lagavulin very much (DE1993, 12 YO CS).

Other whiskies, I have tried/tested are: Bowmore 12YO, Highland Park (12,15,18,25, 30YO), Yamazaki 18YO, Glendronach 15YO (Revival), Balvenie and some other, in the past (Glenrothes, Glemorangie, Oban, Dalwhennie).

I will be coming back to see what you may taste and like.

By: Scotch Hobbyist

Scotch Hobbyist — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:29:29 +0000

Thanks for the kind words, Bill. Wow, that 27 year CI sounds wonderful! I totally see what you’re saying there about CI being peat “smoky”, rather than peaty. The peat itself definitely doesn’t come through like it does with Talisker.

I’m curious as to whether you generally prefer older CIs to younger ones. So far, I’ve only tasted a couple of older ones, and have tended to lean more towards the 12 year, or these IB 17/18 year versions that keep the same intensity and strong coal smoke of the younger bottling.

Thanks,
Jeff

By: Bill Marshall

Bill Marshall — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:06:58 +0000

Always happy to see any review of Caol Ila, especially from someone as well versed in it as you Jeff. I’ll try and find this one if I can.
In return can I ask if you’ve read my own review of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s latest Caol Ila bottling – number 5 in http://www.discoverwhisky.co.uk/2010/02/12/smws-february-tasting-olaf-excels-himself-with-5-fascinating-single-malts/

It’s not cheap but it’s the best Caol Ila I’ve drunk for years, and I can’t praise it much higher than that.

Much appreciated your comments about my review of the Balvenie Madeira by the way.

slainte

Bill

By: Best in Blog #73: Laphroaig Plays Up Maker’s Mark Relationships and 14 New Tasting Notes | Whisky Party

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:41:58 +0000

[...] Hobbyist gives the Caol Ila 18 from Single Malts of Scotland a [...]

By: Joshua Hatton (@yossiyitzak)

Joshua Hatton (@yossiyitzak) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:14:55 +0000

Killer, in depth review. Thanks so much Jeff! The only Caol Ila I’ve ever had is the 2009 unpeated (bought because of your suggestion/review). I now see that I have to branch out and try their peated malts – this and the 12. Cheers! And, thanks again for such a great review. Very enjoyable read.