Отзывы Whiskybase
учтено 156 заметок · текстовых 85 · полный lossless-снимок WB (полнота подтверждена)
Суммаризация отзывов
Caol Ila 18 описывают как мягкий, сбалансированный виски с деликатным костровым дымом, цитрусом, ванилью, морскими и солёными нотами; при этом нередко критикуют крепость 43%, недостаток интенсивности и неоправданную цену на фоне 12-летнего.
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В большинстве отзывов Caol Ila 18 предстаёт мягким, округлым и хорошо сбалансированным виски. Дым чаще называют деликатным, костровым, а не фенольным, и он отходит на второй план по сравнению с 12-летним, уступая место цитрусовым, ванильным, морским и солёным нотам, фруктовой сладости, солодовости, специям, дубовой пряности, а иногда орехам, коже, табаку и эспрессо. Нос нередко описывают как комплексный и деликатный, тело — как на удивление хорошее при 43%, а финиш — от среднего до короткого, с лёгкой пепельностью, золой и дубом. Часть дегустаторов хвалит его за баланс, лёгкую питкость, «честный» сухой торфяной характер и хорошо интегрированный торф, а также за то, что он менее агрессивен, чем молодые Caol Ila.
Однако наряду с этим звучат устойчивые претензии: крепость 43% и связанная с ней нехватка силы и интенсивности, «укрощённость», «тонкость», водянистость и короткий финиш для 18-летнего виски в этой ценовой категории. Неоднократно отмечается, что разница в цене с 12-летним не оправдана, а сам виски называют «базовым», переоценённым, не очень сложным, «немного скучным», «слишком рассудительным» и разочаровывающим для своего возраста; один отзыв прямо говорит, что он ощущается значительно моложе 18 лет. Есть и противоречивые или редкие ноты — пластик, хлор, рыбий оттенок, «дешёвые духи», дисгармоничность, вплоть до полного разочарования. Отдельно встречаются сравнения с 12-летним: одни считают 18-летний более нежным, сложным и утончённым, другие предпочитают 12-летний. Также фиксируются различия между партиями и релизами: старый релиз 2002 года описывают как более сложный, фруктово-сладкий и морской, новый — как более горько-травянистый, древесный и менее выразительный, а новые розливы — как более дубовые и сушащие из-за танинов. При цене около 100–120 € часть отзывов считает его слишком дорогим, а некоторые отмечают, что он очень хорош, но не запоминается.
собрано 85/156 текстовых отзывов · полный lossless-снимок WB
· 2026-10-08T04:58:52Z · источник evidence
An excellent representation of Islay's Whiskies. Despite its age, the peat is still very present
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 92 | Maritime peat with lemon. |
| Вкус | 93 | Strong smoky woods notes that are nicely integrated, yeasty and vanilla. |
| Финиш | 93 | Long smoky finish, iodine and nutmeg. |
It is such a gentle dram, an Islay whisky wearing suit and tie. Very round and ellegant, coastal, smoky and citric. Maybe it is not complex or overly intense, but if you do not like it go to a psychoanalyst.
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 88
Aroma:Moderate;Palate:86/100; Aftertaste:Med-Long.
Real pity about the finish, otherwise this is an amazing whisky with a really subtle yet complex nose and palate.
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 88
Feels way younger than 18y, i'm very disappointed. Price/Performance 3 of 10.
нос 95 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
—- Blind cost —-
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Very balanced, rather light and easy than old and heavy, very drinkable - why not as daily dram if you like - really not expensive for 18yo - very good
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | Yellow fruits, little vanilla, pineapple, apricot, peach, lemon, honey, wet tobacco, little toffee, cookie dough, orange peel, and surely quite some peat and smoke - not bad |
| Вкус | 92 | Oily, creamy, little sirupy, good sweetness, honey, little vanilla, orange and apple juice, also some passion fruit, good level of peat and smoke, little spicy - very good |
| Финиш | 91 | Medium long, warm, fruity, not herbal and not drying |
I liked this one better than the 25er. More distillery character and nicer flavor, but less tart wood than the 25 bottle
нос 89 · вкус 89 · финиш 88
Basic Caol Ila.
Dark golden color. Slightly oily structure.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | Pleasant, balanced aroma. Smoky, ash and sweet notes mix, sweet creams, vanilla, and all this with fresh fruit. Lots of vanilla. Vanilla pudding. Underneath are Caol Ila's signature citrus fruits. A pinch of spices. White pepper. Oranges. Tangerines. Traces of green apples. |
| Вкус | 88 | Salt. Ash. Lots of citrus. Green apples in the ashes. Slight oiliness. Sweet, light cream. |
| Финиш | 87 | Smoke. Ash. Maritime. Salt. Caramel. Salted caramel. Nice. Intense. Medium-long finish. |
Everything the 12 can do, but better. I like it a lot, even if I think the extra cost compared to the 12 is too high.
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 90 · вкус 86 · финиш 89
Beautifully balanced interplay of tastes, no dominant note, very good Caol Ila! unfortunately only 43%
Amazingly soft. Not overly complex, but pleasant to drink. "Blindtasting"
Of a noble austerity. Its complex nose is worth the detour.
Good. Not more, not less.
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 86
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | Fine, noble smoke, but not so strong anymore. It has a great range of spices. |
| Вкус | 89 | Something bitter but also sweet comes through H. More complex than the others and also a little better than the 25 (which is already too bitter for me) with depth |
| Финиш | 86 | Finish with smoke |
A complex good whisky. Balanced, the taste keeps what the aroma promises, because many aromas jostle, it is difficult to taste and smell anything, it 'sparkles' in the taste. Great
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 85 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
нос 86 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
More subtle version of the 12 years old, but not worth the extra cost.
complex and tasty.
Much milder and more reserved on the nose than the 12-year-old, but he appears a bit more complex. In terms of taste and finish, however, I find no arguments that justify a price difference of € 50. Still a welcome dram that should be given time.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 90 | fine wood smoke minimally medical beats with hints of campfire ash, with a full fruity sweetness and maritime elements, vanilla and caramel are also present in combination with butter, raisins and citrus in the background, later jelly bananas, a hint of sandalwood and fine nougat |
| Вкус | 86 | light aromatic smoke, soft caramel moves into the foreground flanked by striking Oak spice and subtle vanilla, develops a tingling effect on the tongue, the caramel acquires a chocolate component over time and looks a bit playful in the throat |
| Финиш | 89 | excellent, getting dry with a little milk chocolate, cold Smoke combined with smoked ham, marginally bitter oak, sugar syrup, overall medium in length, the greatest perseverance is shown by the smoke and a buttery, heavy sweetness |
нос 83 · вкус 83 · финиш 83
нос 88 · вкус 85 · финиш 88
It's balanced and fairly rich, but lacks something that gives it a little extra.
soft and delicious, a perfect first class everyday dram
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 84
нос 88 · вкус 89 · финиш 84
Nose 21.5, taste 21.5, finish 22, balance 22
There's a lot to discover. A 5cl sample is not enough to explore everything. With each sip opens up new impressions. Find him really exciting
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Smoke; Iodine; maritime spicy; fruity and sweet; almost a bit herbaceous and malty, a hint of vanilla |
| Вкус | 92 | Unbelievably mild start; mild smoke; sweet; then sweet; gets a bit salty, absolutely maritime; then sweet again; Oak binds beautifully; becomes minimal sharper over time, but remains permanently sweet. Interesting mixture between sweet, tart, smoke and citrus. Something is there (direction herbs). There's a lot to discover. After the third sip, a peppery spiciness also builds, but not too intrusive. Really good |
| Финиш | 90 | getting a little drier; sweet; then citrus; sweet again; permanently beautiful, mild smoke but rather towards campfire, already partially extinguished; Again citrus; Malt, Over time, the oak becomes stronger, slightly astringent, reminiscent of dark chocolate or coffee, but then evaporates and turns into citrus and fruit. Insanely multi-faceted |
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
With a natural preference for the independent bottlers, one tends to overlook how good some of the official bottlings can actually be. More settled and complex, the years have tamed this Caol Ila 18 quite a bit. Leaning towards smoldering bonfires, sea spray and sour apples, the nose unfolds with buttermilk, lemon and hints of aniseed. A wonderful combination of peaty, salty-sweet and acidic flavors dance on the palate, raw and yet elegant. Herbal tea, dry peat smoke and a touch of miso soup characterize the long finish. This malt is worth every penny! RATING: 4.2/5.0 stars ≙ 89 pts → FIRST-CLASS [+]
нос 89 · вкус 91 · финиш 88
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
very good balance between the coal ashes, brine, honey sweetness and coastal notes. Surprisingly good body at only 43%
A very well balanced whisky and an easy drinking one. With an higher abv it would only get better.
нос 80 · вкус 79 · финиш 79
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 85
Not too dominating smoky, much more subtle than the 12 years but also a lot more expensive.
нос 84 · вкус 86 · финиш 88
Nose: slightly oily, neat oak, peat, musty kelp, ripe apple Mouth: salt, peat, oak, strong, green salad, slightly bitter and fruity, slightly peppery Finish: balanced, long with smoke and some pepper
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
A really great malt. It offers all the facets one would expect from an Islay whisky. The smoke is more towards campfire than phenolic. The smoke is well integrated and a bit more discreet than the younger brother of the 12er but the oak freight is one size bigger. Interesting is the finish of the pepper notes similar to the Chilichatch of Talisker but more towards black pepper. No matter more complex than the 12, if you give it time, can find many things in this malt: salty sea air, campfires, citrus fruits, subtle vanilla, pepper and more.
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
Very spicy and powerful but well balanced with smoky sweet flavors, not very complex but down to earth and with character - 22.10.2016
For me as Coal Ila haters a real surprise.
https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2019/08/14/bottle-polishing-an-islay-trio/ Early this year I wrote [with regards to an 11yo Caol Ila WB] ‘I’m reminded how much I love Caol Ila almost everytime I have it‘. It’s weird then that I rarely buy it,… maybe because it’s always there? I bought this because the price was insanely good. Let’s see where the official 18yo is at in 2018/19. N: Dry yet moorish cereal-sweet barley with subtle onion-y > > pickled onion-y, peaty & husky desiccated coconut-y aromas. T: Dry-not-dry husky creamy smoky < barley with oily/buttery coconut topped off with a herbal/candle wax, vanilla essence-d icing and a curious combo of boot polish and pub style pickled whelks, a splash of cider and an even smaller splash of lager-lime top. How very 19,… you choose the decade. F: Light-smokey barley, dirty lemon-y oily garage floors, some coppery > iron fillings,… concluding with husky peaty dry barley with light black tea, remnants of nicotine and just a hint of menthol-y Jif/Cif-like dry lemon. Finishes true on sweet malted barley. C: Over time it showed itself as a dependable deliver-er and yet totally unmoving as if the life had left it before it had even reached the bottling plant. It did however really improve after being poured into an empty glass with the remnants of an Old Elgin 8yo [WLP]. It was the caramel banana > molasses that gave it some body/balls. Maybe this and Deanston 12 would work for a Douglas Laing Double Barrel?
Really balanced and round. Good start to people who trying to get into peat and smoke whisky - not so aggressive
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 85 | campfire smoke, vanilla, fruits. Sweet |
| Вкус | 86 | smoke together with sweetness, vanilla, lemon. A little bit spicy |
| Финиш | 84 | ashy, oak, pretty long |
Usually, I only use a simple Glencairn glass for a tasting, to ensure a stringent evaluation of different whiskys for me. For the Caol Ila 18, I used the 1920s Professional Blenders glass for once, as I had the impression that the Glencairn does not quite live up to this whisky. And it turns out that the 1920s can tease out even more flavors from the whisky. Actually, I do not use this glass anymore, because I had a lot of whisky too concentrated and alcoholic in the nose. In any case, the Caol Ila 18 is a gentleman who is at peace and gives you the feeling that he does not have to prove anything to you. Either, you get involved in it, or you just pass by - which would be a pity, because you would miss a very pleasant representative of Islay's north coast.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Since one thinks first of all, to have an unpeated Caol Ila in the glass, so reserved, so subtle is the smoke - and it does not even show up from the beginning, but she has to literally work forward, past the Overripe bananas, gooseberries and pineapple slices. Sweet and fruity, it presents itself in the nose, with a pinch of salt and sea scent. Dried orange slices, honey, milk chocolate. Everything is very gentle, very smooth and dignified. |
| Вкус | 88 | Mild approach, in which from the beginning - which contrast to the nose - a dry smoky touch on the tongue lays. Creamy and dry in equal parts, with coffee beans, crème brulée, toffee, malt. With its 43% it glides pleasantly over the tongue. Nut brittle and chopped almonds, marzipan bread. The wood content is pleasantly balanced. |
| Финиш | 87 | Medium to long finish, dry. The dry oak planks are intensified in the finish, salt and smoke attract again clearly, plus a pinch of pepper and mild spices. |
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
нос 86 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 86 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 83
Actually, this is a really good whisky. Fresh, balanced, not too sweet, not too dry, pleasantly mild, and with a lovely, clear smokiness. It seems to have just the right amount of everything. And perhaps that's precisely its problem. It's exceptionally pleasant, but for an 18-year-old whisky in this price range, it's a bit too tame, a bit too thin, and above all, far too short. That's probably why the bottle has been sitting on the shelf for so long with its last ten centiliters empty. I don't want to finish it because then I'd finally regret the purchase price. As long as there's still some left, at least I still own an expensive whisky. Psychology is a strange thing sometimes. A beautiful, elegant Caol Ila who, with a bit more power, could probably have shown much more. At 43%, he unfortunately seems a little neutered. What a shame.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Lemon, grapefruit, and a hint of anise. Or perhaps cough syrup? The alcohol is superbly integrated and doesn't bite at all. There are also maritime and slightly iodine notes, but these are more subtle and restrained than loud or medicinal. The smoke is clean, dry, and slightly ashy. Nothing dirty, nothing wild, but rather fresh, clear, and controlled. Alongside the lemon, fruit notes increasingly emerge, and with a little time, the nose develops a surprisingly beautiful depth. You could actually spend the whole evening just sniffing this whisky. That would also be the most economically sensible way to enjoy it. Overall, a truly pleasant summer fragrance: fresh, maritime, fruity and elegant. |
| Вкус | 86 | The initial impression is surprisingly empty. For about three seconds, little happens, and you briefly wonder if you might have accidentally poured the glass. Then it finally arrives. First, citrus fruits and green apple appear. Then, a very pleasant, clean smoke slowly builds up throughout the mouth. If there is such a thing as freshly washed smoke, it was probably captured here. The smoke introduces subtle bitter notes, shifting the citrus aromas towards grapefruit and pomelo. After that, it becomes somewhat herbal. The mouthfeel isn't completely thin, but it definitely leans in that direction. The 43% ABV is exceptionally pleasant, and the alcohol never becomes overpowering. At the same time, this results in a slight lack of intensity. The whisky glides into the finish faster than you can say, "Why only 43%?" |
| Финиш | 86 | Grapefruit, herbs, a touch of ash and mild smoke. Beautiful, well-balanced – and unfortunately over far too quickly. For an 18-year-old whisky in this price range, the finish is about as long-lasting as my resolution not to buy any more bottles. |
нос 89 · вкус 87 · финиш 90
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 84
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
What a nice dram. More gentle and complex than the 12y old. Smoke, salt, some fruits and nice spices. Very well balanced and long finish. Would be interesting to see how more ABV would work on this one.
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 89
Cafe de Toeter on 5 November 2017 with André
It is a nose transformed by a long maturation which is offered to us. The peat is more discreet, but very present. Wood, varnish, candied cherry, raspberry, chocolate milk. A little blackberry. It's quite delicious. On the palate, a slight acidity. Always red fruits. But it's velvety at the same time, gently vanilla. Light pepper. Armfuls of mocha on the finish. An ounce of chicory. And this finale is long, almost interminable. You can feel the fruit on the tip of your tongue a minute later. It's a really pleasant, delicate whisky, more subtle than the 12 year old, but it lacks a little peat. A superb work, to be enjoyed carefully. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2020/06/caol-ila-18-yo.html
нос 91 · вкус 88 · финиш 89
https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/feis-ile-2018-caol-ila-part-1/ N: Very light and with light smoke, this is a comforting aged/malty/smoky number with a touch of leather and subtly integrated coastal & tarry notes. I try for more but in this setting, fail to get anything but a general sense of youthfulness & balance with fair/straight forward complexity. T: Pretty fine juice with a nice chew and a feeling of more ‘power’ than the previous two. On the other hand, it’s a little fidgety/ungainly and somewhat simple, though balanced. F: A long subtlety smokey finish with chocolatey liquorice raisins. C: Sits comfortably between the youthful 12yo and the far older 25yo in the Caol Ila range.
An absolute classic. A well-composed and well-aged peated whisky that boasts a beautiful balance of sweet, savory, and fresh notes. Herbal, maritime, salty, with a dash of fruits and an underlying sweetness. Not one for fans of full-frontal smoke; this is rather refined and elegant. I prefer this over the 25-year-old, which is more musty and less well-defined in comparison.
This is the review of the very first release of the standard 18-years old Caol Ila from 2002 (hence distilled in 1984). [August, 2019] Tonight is the night to do a long-planned old versus new head-to-head of the standard Caol Ila edition, 2015 release (NEW, WB id 96997) versus this first ever bottling from 2002 (OLD, there is neither a Classic Malts logo nor a www.malts.com reference on the back label)... ...and the differences between the two are really significant. Of course, both present the lovely Caol Ila DNA but OLD indeed offers a complex and bold old-stylish profile while NEW rather goes for the modern wood-driven whisky "zeitgeist" that is much more simple and (to me) rather boring. Do not get me wrong, still the new 18-years old Caol Ila is a nice dram to drink but its profile lacks a lot of personality compared to its 2002 sibling. [June, 2021] I re-tasted this dram tonight and fully confirm my old review and score. What a difference to the newer batches, and by the way: Angus from whiskyfun scored a sample from this very bottle 90 points too.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 89 | The colour of OLD is one shade darker at old gold while NEW is at yellow gold (despite they use caramel to adjust it). The nose of the two drams is very different: Old offers a truly old-stylish profile with lots of nice OBFs , fruits, honeys, waxes, oils, herbs and significant maritime peaty aromas. This is the adorable sweet-peaty profile from the best years of Caol Ila (simply check the ratings of older vintage 1984 bottlings - 2002-18=1984). Contrary to OLD the NEW release shows much more bitter-herbal wooden notes but misses both the fruity-sweet and maritime flavours almost completely. What a difference! |
| Вкус | 90 | The taste of OLD is layered and greatly chewable so it offers all its delicious flavours like in a parade. The sweet fruits and barley sugars, the maritime peaty notes , the spicy wooden flavours and many more impressions are in a perfect balance without any flaw. Great stuff to quaff! NEW's taste is not layered, unfortunately and dominated by bitter-peaty flavours with the sweet notes playing a minor role only. It gets rather drying-astringent over time - but again: still NEW is a fine dram that I like to drink. Nonetheless it is a three points difference to OLD. |
| Финиш | 90 | The initial mouthfeel of NEW is warming and just a little coating without distracting moments while OLD arrives absolutely charming and instantly coats the whole of the mouth. Of course it shows no distracting moments either. OLD's finish is long and vanishes in several fading waves without any distracting moments again. All stays harmonic and balanced and the old-style waxes and earthy notes form a grand finale. The finish of NEW is shorter but still medium to long and stays on the bitter-astringent side (with additional eucalyptus notes, just like the end of the taste was). Again, this is enjoyable but a huge difference to the 2002 edition. Water is not recommended on NEW as it just flattens the dram. OLD is a better swimmer but still I like it best when neat. |
Beautiful maritime powerful Caol Ila with the typical fresh citrus note. Very interesting and complex, compared to the 25J a little fresher and more maritime and powerful.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | fresh fruity sweetness; citrus flavors; maritime; Seaweed; nice smoke note (campfire); spicy oak |
| Вкус | 87 | powerfully maritime; Seaweed; also in the taste fresh sour-fruity sweetness (citrus); salty; nice oak spice in the background; great smoke note (campfire) |
| Финиш | 87 | long; salty; maritime character; spicy; nice smoke note (campfire) |
2021-02-07: a bit boring
нос 82 · вкус 85 · финиш 80
In many ways, there is a parallel with the 12-year-old release. In the aroma, age is felt due to greater roundness and depth of aroma. Vanilla components became more audible, and tart herbs appeared. At the same time, the smoke is very light and perfectly complements very light alcohols. The taste also feels light and round, sweet pears, herbal motifs have become noticeable, fruit candies and notes of propolis have appeared. Caol Ila 18 is almost like 12, but a little better, more refined. However, from the significant difference of 6 years of aging, I would like to see more development.
нос 86 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
Subtle smoke and roasted rice (nurungji) form the base, overlaid with roasted barley, green apple, orange, and grapefruit citrus notes. Both aroma and taste are refined and well-balanced. Despite the low ABV, the flavor feels full and satisfying.
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
Blindverkostung.
A little disappointed by this 18 too wise, finally I prefer 12.
That all sounds like it. not necessarily multi-layered or long as a description of my circumstances, but somehow he convinces with his consistent, maritime simplicity
нос 85 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
[December, 2003] Together with friends I emptied a bottle that I bought for 73 Euro in November, 2002. [November, 2010] Together with friends I emptied another bottle that I bought for 49,50 Euro in February, 2003. In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 87,5. I took no detailed notes.
Nose: Very vegetal to start. A long since expired autumn bonfire, that consisted of wet leaves, potato/carrot peel, roasted pine nuts and dry dead oak. Very feint sweetness, with a little salty and dry barley. The smoke has a beautiful wispyness to it, as it comes and goes. Lends the nose an air of sophistication. Palate: Sweet potato and orange pith soup. Maybe some cumin and parsley sprinkled in for a garnish. Smoke is still an old bonfire but now with some honey baked ham and hot apple cider to watch it go out. A little sweeter on the palate than the nose but still has that oaky wood chip bitterness to compliment the malt. Body: Quite soft, almost cushioned with this level of alcohol. Very desirable when combined with this level of age and sophistication. Finish: A sweet dry oak/hazelnut finish. With the smoke hanging in the air like an abandoned croft with the windows boarded up. The ashiness never comes. A little longer finish than expected for a 43%er but not eternal by any means. It shows how much more you can get out of a whisky with a moderate level of peat smoke. No need to chase ppm. Old school peaty sophistication. A truly fantastic whisky for the price and is becoming increasingly hard to find. Stock up people!
нос 90 · вкус 92 · финиш 89
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
N: A relaxed sweet herbal nose with stewed veg and tart-ish rhubarb, oriental plastic? and chlorine. T: This bottle is a tad weary [low level], but shows no signs of giving up the host just yet. Continues with salty, savoury & herbal smoked barley cereal. F: Have you chewed on peated whole grain malted barley lately? This finishes with that kind of honesty, dry, mature yet still youthful. C: Caol Ila is quite possibly the ideal peated whisky for those who [think they] dont like peated whisky - a credit to that familiar, dry polite & honest smoke character. Yet another consistently decent batch.Scores a B
one of the first dinosaurs in old age released in GS! finally tasting!
Caol ila 18. I want to charm friends. To impress them. I need an elegant, fragrant scotch, neither too strong nor too diluted. Sobriety but respondent ... to discover the magnificence of peat scotches of Islay without disgusting them too much. Anyway, are you available tonight?
Really good standard dram
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | Sweet pear, peach, vanilla cream, sweet lemon citrus, sea salt fruity hay peat |
| Вкус | 88 | Sweet, creamy vanilla peat, butterscotch, peach and apricot puree, slightly salty |
| Финиш | 87 | Medium, sweet honey, charcoal, saltiness |
нос 87 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 84
It’s been 9 months ago since I last tried this one, and I figured it would be fun to review it again with a changed palate - without looking at my previous review. I get mostly the same notes (though I don’t get why I wrote down white chocolate last time, but oh well), and I think I enjoy the dram about the same. I do have more appreciation for its subtleness, so that did change. For the rest, the usual -> I wish this wasn’t both watered down to 43% and ridiculously overpriced. But since I was gifted a couple samples anyway, it’s still enjoyable stuff.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Restrained smoke, like a clean wood fire, white fruits -apple, pear-, vanilla, oat cookies, a bit of pepper and citrus. |
| Вкус | 86 | Mostly similar to the nose; dialed down smokiness, followed by a quite clean, crisp, fruity distillate. There’s sweetness, but not too much, and overall the palate is light and subtle. |
| Финиш | 85 | Short finish, mild smoke and white fruit. |
нос 87 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 84 · вкус 90 · финиш 86
Blind tasting. A few more percent by volume would have stood well on the malt.
нос 87 · вкус 85 · финиш 90
[May, 2017] I had this dram during the Manager's Masterclass tasting at Caol Ila open day (Feis Ile). So it is the most recent batch. When this 18 year old was first released in 2002 I instantly loved it for its boldness and rich flavours. And the price was very okayish back then with just 55 Eurobucks. Since then I regularly try new batches and still they are all good. But there are significant differences too, so the newer batches became more woody and drying due to heavy tannins (obviously they fell victim to the cask supply shortage too as many other standard whiskies did). Nevertheless a very nice and easy-to-drink dram with a charming peaty-sherry-vanilla profile.
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Very nice balance between fruit, smoke, salt / iodine and sweetness, the oily character of Caol Ila is very present, just awesome.
N: A relaxed sweet herbal nose with stewed veg and tart-ish rhubarb, oriental plastic? and chlorine. T: This bottle is a tad early [low level] but shows no signs of giving up the host jut yet. smoked barley, salty, savoury herbal cereal. F: Have you had peated malted whole grain barley lately? This finishes with that kind of honesty, dry yet still youthful. C: Caol Ila is quite possibly the ideal peated whisky for those who [think they] dont like peated whisky - a credit to that familiar, dry polite & honest smoke character.Scores a B
Exactly to my taste! Dry, sweet smoker! Absolutely buy again.
нос 90 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
Solid dram, but not an impressive 18 yo. Never wow-ed me, nor does the 25 yo, unfortunately. With exceptions, I find better Caol Ilas from independent bottlers. A bit of a Bowmore syndrome going on here as well...
Felt a bit underwhelming at first, but grew on me with some time and oxidation. Quite mellow, and well balanced.
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 85 · вкус 87 · финиш 86
Nice ending But it's way too expensive for what it is
нос 88 · вкус 86 · финиш 90
This is more sophisticated than the 12YO old for me, even though I would’ve liked if the smoke didn’t go this far to the background. The lightness of the spirit is very enjoyable and I appreciate the character it gives in combination with the smoke. However, for this price, I’ll stay with the 12YO.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 86 | Meaty smoke, citrus, white fruit, tangy, dry, fresh. |
| Вкус | 88 | Lots of fruit, the smoke is a lot more subtle then the 12YO, very light spirit but refined, hints of white chocolate. |
| Финиш | 84 | Short, fruity and light smoke. |
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
Coming from 85 after some time open
нос 88 · вкус 87 · финиш 87
нос 88 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 87
A showdown between Colin Dunn vs Joe Clark. Three drams each, blind. Colin's no.#2 N: Interesting fact: Caol Ila has only been released as a single malt since 2002! Surely Ardbeg, or is it Lagavulin? Regardless, sweet, oily peat it is. T: Ok, er, Laphroaig?,… No Ardbeg? It's a bit thin with a green note, old green [but no pot-still]. Could be a good age, 18+ No water required. F: Yep, thumbs up for the finish. C: Aah, I love Caol Ila. Feels like it needs more power is all. Joe's no.#2 is up. WB Scores a B[-]
[November, 2010] I had this during a community tasting near Bonn.In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 87,5. My notes state a bold and complex profile on both bourbon and sherry casks. The taste is rich and well rounded...
Caol Ila 18yo (Batch L7255) Nose: You notice first of all that the smoke here is much more restrained. A campfire on the beach, with moist wood and seaweed, whose scent is carried from a distance to the nose. Where he has lost smoke, he has gained fruit. The green apple is joined by red, while the citrus is juicy peach. Licorice, some freshly grated nutmeg, the wood is noticeable. Fine herbal scents: thyme, a little coriander. A complex nose that invites you to take a long time to sniff, the smoke does not show any medical notes here. Mouth: In the mouth, it is initially slightly astringent. The 18-year-old is also much more fruity and the smoke is finely integrated in the form of a light ashiness. Apples, peaches, a little pear compote, almond slivers, rum grapes, a few drops of brine, olives, herbs and oak spice. Finish: Long, only slightly ashen, for the first time the oak dominates. Light grape sweetness. Conclusion: Very well balanced, a malt without blemish and blame. The cultivated smoke is good for him, the fruitiness and the oak spice in the finish as well. Only that the price jump from 12 to 18 is quite high, is a bit steep.
Tasted on 11-01-2019 at "The Mash Tun" in Aberlour.
нос 85 · вкус 84 · финиш 86
Quite a disappointment for me. Just celebrated a 12 year old by a UA and now hoping for an enlightenment, but received a flickering, weak sparkle. Inharmonious. Failed. sorry
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 84 | clear thick smoke, heather, dentist, citrus, rose hip tea. |
| Вкус | 82 | vigorous. malty. warm. But piquing alcohol. Something cheaply perfumed is disturbing in the background. |
| Финиш | 76 | Smoke and again that penetrant (miss?) Note. Bergamot? In any case, badly integrated, artificial and inappropriate. Will not come on my shelf. |
A very well-balanced and well-balanced whisky. Delicate in taste, very fruity, with notes of light peat, lots of smoke and sweet toffee. At each stage, the aroma, taste and finish are pleasant to the presence of salt. Alcohol very well hidden.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | sweet, rose water, wine, fruity, raisins, vanilla, fine peat, slightly salty end with a touch of green apples |
| Вкус | 88 | creamy, slightly sweet, a lot of smoke, peat, toffee, sugar syrup, a little pineapple, fudge, the end is slightly salty again |
| Финиш | 87 | medium, sweet, charcoal, plum in vinegar, warming end, delicate salt again. |
Fire pit, sweet, some sherry, vanilla. Very nice, little bit salt, fire and smoke!
A well-balanced and enjoyable whisky. Despite the low ABV, it doesn’t feel lacking in volume or presence. The coastal character and savory depth make it a pleasant sipper, though the faint fishy note on the nose and finish might not be for everyone. A solid, easy-drinking whisky with good balance and character.
'Lacklustre' N: Peaty, yeasty, meaty and sweet, smelling more potent than its 43%. Limey and sticky pollen note accompanying the light sweet smoky peat oil. Some [orange] fruits coming through and pancakes. Very Bladnoch like to me. T: Flat delivery - oily, vanilla sweet and peaty, tasting over vatted. F: Aniseed and mint notes infused with sweet oily peat, floury buttered malt and charred wood. C: Gentle, inoffensive, enjoyable easy drinker which also comes across as homogenised and lacklustre. I'll offer the idea that the large scales of production and mechanization needed to produce the 18yo in quantities large enough to meet demand have drawn the vigour out of individual bottlings. Compare this to Ardbeg 10 [let alone single cask bottlings], and you'll see this 18yo offers no competition whatsoever. Scores a B-
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 85
нос 90 · вкус 88 · финиш 86
blind tasting
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
нос 86 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 90 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос 87 · вкус 89 · финиш 89
нос 87 · вкус 90 · финиш 87
нос 87 · вкус 88 · финиш 87
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 88 | 26 December 2022 86 31/1/ 23 Citrus, Vanilla, Honey, Smoke, Gentle, Salty, Slight Fishy, 88 |
| Вкус | 89 | Malty, Sweet, |
| Финиш | 88 | Sweet Aftertaste, Fishy, Warming, Medium Finish, Barley Aftertaste, |
* * * *
нос 85 · вкус 86 · финиш 86
нос 83 · вкус 85 · финиш 84
нос 84 · вкус 83 · финиш 83
raitng for 2006 edition
нос 90 · вкус 90 · финиш 93
It's very good, but not memorable either. The Caol Ila paw is pretty good.Very elegant, but I think he may be a little too much of his 43% to really make an impression.
n: the peat is nicely embedded in malty, leathery and spicy aromas. slightly ashy, slightly tarry. salted caramel, dried wood, seashore and beach. not spectacular, yet very nice. really! t: creamy mouthfeef, salted caramel again, a good thread of smoke, quite malty. medium dry, roasted chestnuts, walnuts, black tea. I can hardly find any fruit. f: a bit short maybe, but very clean. makes you want more. comments: a very good dram, old school gentleman. 88/100
Complex CI, which works really well in cask strength.
I just forgot how good this Caol Ila actually is. Surprisingly, actually. Not to be compared with young Caol Ilas, because he is a lot less aggressive. But it is beautifully subtle and the peat is well integrated and more into the background. The fact that it is bottled at 43% is not an issue at all here. In fact, I would have rated it higher if I had had to taste it blind. All in all, a very nice core range bottle from Caol Ila, and one that I like to go back to once in a while.
нос 89 · вкус 90 · финиш 90
нос 89 · вкус 88 · финиш 88
A truly beautiful and balanced standard, which unfortunately has become a bit too expensive for me at €100. If the price also included an increase in the strength to 46%, I'd be happy to go along with it. But that's probably just a pipe dream.
нос · вкус · финиш
| Нос | 87 | Delicate, maritime smoke, accompanied by light citrus notes. Distant beach bonfire, sea spray, limes, green apple, pineapple, vanilla, aloe juice. |
| Вкус | 87 | Light body with subtle smoky notes. Orange, pine needles, toffee, salt, ash, pineapple and banana in nuances, leather, dark olives, and oak spice. |
| Финиш | 86 | Medium-length finish. Extinguished fire, ash, tobacco, olives, espresso. |
- round, mild and smoky - much more comfortable and softer than the 12 J. - however, it is not very complex, therefore for 18 years quite disappointing - the benchmark and expectations were clear here higher than the 12 y. - he has not fulfilled at a price of about 100 - 120 € - there are much better 18-year-old whiskys, more have to offer