Caol Ila 2005 / 2006 (Gordon & MacPhail vs. Whisky-Doris vs. Sansibar)

We’re having three young Caol Ila bottlings from independent bottlers today. We’ve been talking about the stunning accuracy of this distillery, yet these casks turn out to be quite different. The price as well, by the way.

 

 

Caol Ila 9 yo 2006 (51,3%, Sansibar ‘Samurai label’ 2015, bourbon hogshead, 340 btl.)

Nose: nice combo of bright fruits and mentholated and iodine notes.  Eucalyptus, Tiger balm. Wet wool. Unripe pineapple, perhaps a little rhubarb. Lemon peel and pretty clean peat smoke. The freshness of the mint / menthol is great.

Mouth: same thoughts, very mentholy, minty and herbal. Definitely the most medicinal profile of these three. A lot of ashes. Oysters with lemon. Anise. I like the roundness and the freshness.

Finish: long, plenty of liquorice, peppery notes and herbal touches.

Very good selection, the minty freshness works like a charm here, and makes you forget it’s basically young whisky. Around € 115, still available in some shops.

Score: 88/100

 

 

Caol Ila 9 yo 2006
(52,2%, Whisky-Doris 2015, bourbon hogshead #303049, 310 btl.)

Nose: more vegetal notes this time. More of a mezcal feeling as well (spirity, earthy notes, fat smoke). There are few fruity notes and less of the menthol freshness. Instead more chalky notes and wet clay. Raw grassy notes and mashed potatoes. After a while lots of green bananas and growing vanilla.

Mouth: punchy, with green bananas, deep smoke and white pepper. Anise. Other than that, nice but a little simple perhaps, not much happening compared to the others.

Finish: dry, long, with more salty / coastal notes and a hint of mustard.

High quality again, though less within my personal preferences. Slightly simpler, without the medicinal touches to lift it. Around € 115, still available in some shops.

Score: 85/100

 

 

Caol Ila 11 yo 2005
(57,3%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Cask Strength’ 2016, first-fill sherry butts #301521, 301523, 301524 & 301527)

Nose: again very different – even though the first-fill sherry influence is not what you’d imagine. It’s rather buttery and porridgy, with hints of vanilla as well as some saffron rice pudding. The sweetest of the trio. Ripe banana this time. Some charred toast underneath. Hints of smoked bacon, as well as a bit of mint and iodine, like in the Sansibar bottling.

Mouth: a creamy side again, with vanilla and roasted fruits. Melons and grilled pineapple. Candied fruits. Thick smoke, evolving towards pepper, liquorice and some mentholated / medicinal notes. A slight herbal bitterness towards the end.

Finish: medium long, with citrus, cold ashes and herbal notes.

Interesting differences, with some nice touches, but I’m not sure the medicinal side is entirely in sync with the creamy vanilla and sherry sweetness here. It seems to clash a little. Around € 65, that’s quite a bargain indeed, compared to the others!

Score: 87/100