Caol Ila 16-year-old

beautiful, excellent smoke, spicy, complex, herbal with a long finish. Great

89,00

The quality is good; the first sip was a pleasant surprise, but after a couple more sips it became rather bland. I'd give it an 88.5.

Soft and elegant peated stuff.

** Carbol soap ** No Feis Ile this year due to corona (spicy detail: not one case has been registered on Islay), but Feis Ile releases of course. Then online via a special website. The fans were on their back legs - rightly so! - because for 'tax reasons' Diageo only sold the bottles to customers with a delivery address in the UK Fortunately, I know a few people who wanted to help me out of the emergency and so I managed to manage both this Caol Ila and the Lagavulin get 2 bottles. At three o'clock this Caol Ila, limited to 3,000 bottles, was sold out. The malt first matured on refill bourbon hogsheads and then got a finish on Amoroso-treated Hogsheads (and let that be the type of barrel used for the Distillers Edition of that other valve from the Diageo stable: Talisker). Now hope - but I am reasonably confident - that it is also very tasty. Although the DNA of Caol Ila (citrus, seaweed, peat) is clearly present, it is mainly the large dose of sweetness that surprises me here - pleasantly surprised, let me be clear. Lemongrass, Haribo bears, wine gums and candies. Then some green herbs, something floral and soft medicinal notes follow. Carbol soap. Surprisingly subtle and very summery - for a Caol Ila. Wonderfully different from what I am used to from Caol Ila. Oh yeah! It arrives nice and well seasoned, even a bit creamy and very clean. I suck on a pineapple cube while I'm in the kiln. A big floral touch is now at the very front that makes me frown for a moment. It won't turn into carb soap, will it? But no, luckily he doesn't get soapy. In fact, after those top notes he suddenly becomes quite maritime. Pepper and salt appear, are smoothly drowned out by ginger, while the smoke - which was so subtle on the nose - now spreads throughout your mouth, making it nice and warm. Not much is left of the subtle of the nose, but it is all great. In the finish, the Amoroso barrel no longer stands a chance. Now the malt shows its true nature again: salty, peaty, smoky and absolutely fantastic. I had high expectations and they were fully met - at that short moment in time where it threatened to go to FWP. A delicious, somewhat atypical Caol Ila to enchant you.

A really tasty malt with a great depth. The finish is quite challenging for me. I'm not entirely sure whether I will warm up with it in the long run. But that's probably a question of form on the day. Full review (german): https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2020/08/05/feis-ile-2020/

Anthracite, a hint of fruit, lemon, sea salt.

Great nose! The palate starts off amazing as well, but mid palate a distinct mold note comes in and doesn’t leave. While it isn’t a main, it is hard to lose once found

Fèis Ìle under Covid 19 conditions. While you have to travel to DIE Insel at "normal" times to get this bottle of festival, this year you "only" had to be able to show a UK address - or know someone who has one in store. ;-) On the tongue and in the finish it reveals its full potential - I think it could have started in the nose. You have to be able to deal with his reluctance. But ultimately, complaining is at a high level ...

Youtube Review: https://youtu.be/ekvM7gVj5LE

Released to celebrate the virtual Fèis Ìle of 2020 this sixteen-year-old Caol Ila was quite the treat. It combined just enough of a sweet sherry finish to the salty malt of the distillery to give the impression of an all-access resort pass. Who needs breakfast when you can abandon your cares poolside while wandering over to the fruit buffet cabana whenever fancy strikes. This had lovely salt and medicinal notes which nodded toward the experience of relaxing beside a beachside pool. Why bother getting salty when the resort pool is just as nice? Mental Image: Cabana Fruit Buffet [Summer 2024] Re-Reviewed this release during a blind tasting. Correctly guessed it was Caol Ila-- certainly helped that I had had it before. I rated it the exact same but with "Wandering the Night Market" as my mental imagery. Lovely stuff.

The more Caol Ilas I try, the higher this distillery rises in my estimation. Can't say that about many brands...

A high quality modern Caol Ila, steady happiness.

The salty, fruity flavor is quite interesting.

The release was finished in Amoroso sherry casks, which had a significant impact on its profile. On the inhale there are lacquered wood, toffee, grapes and gooseberries, as well as signature notes of citrus, minerals, pepper and leather. Over time, medicinal herbs, dill brine, perfume and light technical components appear. The palate is dense and sweet, with powerful tannins. Tones of caramel, candy, smoked pears and tropical fruits (pineapples, dried bananas) were added to the recognizable profile of the plant. The aftertaste does not leave the mouth for a long time and reveals caramel, candy and tropical fruits.

Smoke and fruit beautifully interwoven - whether the barrel treatment plays an important role here?

A very successful bottling, balanced sherry notes (Amoroso=sweet sherry variant similar to the PX) with the clean Caol Ila smoke result in a spicy, fruity mixture without one of the components outdoing the other.

A very nice dram with some cool notes but unfortunately not that interesting.

A Caol Ila of the herbaceous, smoky variety with the typical Caol Ila smoke.

Balance (23) Good malt, wine does not dominate. (90)

23/22/22/22

1975) Caol Ila, 16YO, Feil Ile 2020 Quintessential Caol Ila dna with its alluring, lightly oily mollusk scents. Sun baked sea shells, mellow and matured, with underlying sweet malt frosted with thin coat of candy. Absolutely classy with a good flows of calm, weedy, slightly diesel-y nuances that closely knit to the sea. N- 89/21 P- 91/22 F- 92/23 B/B- 90/22

Aroma：Pronounced；Palate：89/100; Aftertaste：Med-Long.

Was sold out within 3 hours... (https://shop.discoveringdistilleries.com/caol-ila-16-year-old-70cl-feis-2020/) Original bottle price 120GBP incl. UK VAT

Nose: While the previously tried 16-year-old Caol Ila from the 1st fill Bourbon barrel was immediately present, this whisky is a bit more shy. He really needs some time and air (occasionally swinging helped me) and some hand warmth. Then he comes out of the glass with a sweet, menthol-like nose. A little red grape juice, dates, a little nutty aromas (rather subtle in the background), tangy citrus, and just a hint (more of a hint) of smoke. With a little water and hand warmth, the malt becomes a little sweeter again, the menthol almost disappears (I suspect the alcohol came out fresh in the nose here). The sweetness has something of caramelized apples, but also raisins, a touch of space. Rum-grape-nut milk chocolate comes to mind as a good comparison. Mouth: very spicy at first, the carburized barrels show up very strongly here at the start. After the first very spicy start, the whisky becomes cozy, soft, sweet. There are also crab chips, subtle grapefruit. The sweetness is almost like cotton candy. Subtly nutty (hazelnut), raisin, fig, a little blackberry. Here, too, water helps immensely, takes a little the strong spicy and peppery note in the mouth and brings the sweetness better to the fore. The longer it is in the mouth, the more the distillery character comes to the fore. Ash, citrus and apple sauce. Finish: Here quite astringent, rather much wood influence, oak. 89/100 Conclusion: First of all: these notes roughly meet the "mean" of this whisky. I have never experienced such a changeability depending on temperature and water (or I am not yet warm with it?) At warmer temperatures (from about 27 °) I have the impression that the sherry influence comes through more and the seasoning decreases. Then water is not necessary. At slightly cooler temperatures the nose is more closed and he definitely needs water. In any case, it is a Caol Ila with comparatively much / active wood. In any case, it is rather unusual, especially for an original bottling. Depending on the weather and the day, it can reach anything between 87-91 / 100, imho

Fruity and Subtle peat Nice

Yes, very tasty, but not extraordinary for me, the 180 € including the complicated shipping to Germany would certainly not have been worth it to me, but I still understand if someone finds more in it than me.

Drinking Date：12/3/2026

Peat / smoked ham combined with sweet notes, subtle chili notes combined with grainy sweetness, with a little licorice and dark chocolate.

Caol Ila 16 Feis Ile 2020, 53.9%. Short review at Melody with Teresa. Aroma is mocha, salted caramel, chocolate syrup, mars bar. Straight-forward but very nice. Smells amazing, actually (if you like caramel). Taste is very easy, soft at the abv, building salt and raw woodiness, salty Caol Ila spirit, a fairly standard Caol Ila taste but with a premium nose - pretty good (3.55/85)

**Carbolic Soap** No Feis Ile this year because of Corona (funny detail: there is not one case registered on Islay), but luckily we do get a Feis Ile release. It was sold online via a dedicated website. The fans were not pleased – rightfully so, I think – as Diageo only sold to people with a UK delivery address for ‘tax reasons’. Luckily I know a few people in the UK and so I was able to secure two bottles of this Caol Ila (as well as the Lagavulin 20). The Caol Ila, limited to 3.000 bottles, was sold out in less than three hours. The malt first matured on refill bourbon hogsheads and then got a finish on Amoroso treated hogsheads (BTW: this is the type of cask that Diageo uses for the Distillers Edition of Talisker). Let’s hope – although I’m fairly confident – that its tasty. While the DNA of Caol Ila (citrus, seaweeds, peat) is clearly present on the nose, it’s the big dose of sweetness that surprises me. Surprises me happily, I hasten to add. Lemongrass, Haribo bears, winegums and citric acid candy. Then some green herbs follow as does something floral and mild medicinal notes. Carbolic soap. Surprisingly subtle and very summery – for a Caol Ila. Wonderfully different to what I am used to from Caol Ila. Oh, yes! The arrival is pretty spicy, a tad creamy even and very clean. Like I’m sucking on some pineapple cubes while standing in the kiln. A big floral top note makes me raise my eyebrows though. This is not going to change into carbolic soap, is it? But no, luckily it does not become soapy. Better yet: after those top notes, it quickly turns very maritime. Salt and pepper appear, are easily overcome by ginger, while the smoke – so subtle on the nose – spreads throughout your mouth, making you feel all warm and fuzzy. There is not much left of the subtle nose, but it’s all grand. The Amoroso cask does not stand a chance in the finish. Now the malt shows it’s true colors again: salty, peaty, smoky and absolutely fantastic. I had high expectations for this one and – bar that short moment where it threatened to turn into FWP – they are all met. A wonderful, somewhat atypical Caol Ila that really rocks my boat.

Definitely the best Caol Ila I've had in my glass so far and therefore my first Caol Ila to be on the watch list.