🥃 Whisky van Zuylen

Many moons ago, it was a dram of Caol Ila 12 that ignited my passion for whisky, and what a journey it has been. Time to revisit my old friend! On the nose, puffs of twiggy bonfire smoke give way to green apples, lemon and briny hints of seawater. Heather honey, black olives and peppery oak spices drive the full-bodied and oily taste, always accompanied by well-integrated sooty salinity. Citrus fruits, subtle vanilla and complex tea notes linger in the long and peaty finish. I'm biased, I know, but this characterful Islay malt is still overlooked and underrated! RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Note by Serge Valentin from whiskyfun.com: Caol Ila 12 yo (43%, OB, +/- 2015)  Another one that we’re trying to follow almost every year. Colour: pale straw. Nose: a longer ageing seems to have imparted more mineral notes, as well as a ‘wider’ coastalness. Iodine, seaweed, bandages, fresh baguette (dough), then rather citrus, as expected. Lemons, grapefruits, a little wet chalk. Bonfire on the beach. Mouth: hey, this burst and roars, and it’s not afraid of the stronger 5yo at all. In fact I find more smoke, more ashes, and more medicinal notes, and while re-reading my notes for last year’s version, indeed I just cannot understand why some folks would call this a ‘lighter peaty Islay’. Agreed, it’s not extremely fat on your palate, but it’s shock-full of peaty/ashy flavours. Even at 43% vol. Finish: long, with a perfect balance between coastal smoke and zesty fruitiness. The aftertaste is very ashy. Comments: up one point. Bargain. SGP:356 - 85 points.

Nice decent peated whisky. Full of flavor, finds a nice balance between smoky smoky at the beginning, to some fruity afterwards, after which the finish is solid again. Pleasure to drink. Medicinal aspect is not too prominent.

This is the review of the very first release of the standard 12-years old Caol Ila from 2002 (hence distilled in 1990). [August, 2019] After an interesting old versus new head-to-head of the standard 18-years old Caol Ila edition that resulted in significant differences (3 points) I decided to do the same with the 12-years old standard edition. It is a head-to-head of the 2018 release (NEW, WB id 120834) 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 these two are again significant. OLD is a typical old Traditional Scotch dram (distillate-driven, more complex, balanced all the time) while NEW shows elements of the modern whisky style already (much more wood-driven which leads to an imbalace during the finish, less complex). Guess what I prefer (by two points)?

one of the best smokers for beginners.

2020 Rating

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/feis-ile-2018-caol-ila-part-1/ N: I’m pleased to report the 12yo still has that notable oily brininess [on the nose at least], with a touch of smokey bacon. T: Decidedly lacklustre after the initial stages. Though the smoke >> vegetal character is likeable, it’s not as oily rich as I’ve remembered it in the past. F: Evaporates to a mild something-ness. C: I used to regard the Caol Ila 12yo as a go-to, though admittedly, some years have past. [Scores 81 points] TAKE 2 - around an hour later N: Wtf, really? Core range juice on free pour in the courtyard! “Seaweed and iodine”, says the manager. Good, let’s move on. T: Light dry smoke, no body. With respect to the already sacrificed in my name, I eat my first and possibly last oyster. It’s of the sea for sure, accompanied by actual gravel in iodine. The oyster is of more interest in the moment,…. F: ,… and dominates my palate completely. Food pairing, honestly ! C: Oysters, what’s that all about? The taste of the sea/fish farm, literally. The whisky scores 81 again.

Nose:- Unpretentious, a rush of abundant mineral notes of brine, cold stone and salty peat of seaweed on first nosing, underlay with some curious fruit sweetness. Splash of water to waken the diesel and tar notes. Intriguing and complex. Palate:- Syrupy sweet approach, follow by lightly sour burnt caramel and traces of iodine. Masked smokiness, not too noticeable, but it is there lingering in the mouth. Finish:- Furry, throat heating and the thick herby smoke reveals themselves, mouth coating and warming. Thin-medium body, medium length. Slightly deceiving and uniquely structured, don't hold back after the first sip, it took me 2 drams to truly enjoy this goodness. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

Bang for a buck whisky, very pricy malt.

Winter Dram Caol Ila is the big work horse of Islay that produces peated whisky for Diageo's blends, of which Johnnie Walker Black Label is the best known one. But it stands on its own as a single malt without any problems. There is a reason why Coal Ila is my favorite Islay whisky. This 12 Year Old is the entry level malt that can be had for as little as 35 EUR. I try a recent bottling, from February 2016. The nose is soft and sweet on caramel, apple and lime. Loads of dried grass and a touch of fish oil. Then something that reminds me of green olives, but with a medicinal twist. The smoke is rather mild. If you leave it for a length of time, it will turn a touch sour. It is wonderfully oily and very spicy from the start. The first sip offers peat and maritime elements, the second leaves a bit of room for the citrus. A soft peppery note and some wood counterfoot this. It is nicely balanced. The long finish keeps the mouth warm. At the death you get another salty uppercut that floors the sweetness. For that price, this Caol Ila should be in your cabinet. Wonderful winter dram. Thanks for the sample, Pat!

A wonderful entry-level dram and a great introduction to what Caol Ila is all about.

Review of a bottle bought in 2022 — much better than earlier versions, IMHO. I used to have this around 86 points, but now we‘re at 88.

Tried another CI12 in a bar in Edinburgh. It was pleasant to drink, with a delicious finish and a hint of chocolate. 71-80 – Fine, like to drink by time

For me, one of the most underrated single malts out there, a very nice standard islay for people who are not just blind ash-horny. ;)

The first bottling from 2002, once again. Very nice. Maritime, fresh, and fruity. Very good balance. I wish current bottlings were as good as this.

Straw-colored. Fresh and appetizing aromas reveal subtle hints of citrus fruits, accompanied by a touch of smokiness. The palate is firm and smooth, starting with a sweet note that evolves into a fragrant smoky flavor and a sweet, smoky taste, leading to a medium-long finish.

A no frills, good smoky whisky.

This is a nice malt but it is no where near as good as it`s sister whisky Lagavulin which is a much more balanced malt. I bought this at the distillery after the tour.

A solid but very one-dimensional 12yo heavy peated whisky.

Molt pleasant, everything seems to be with him, but everything is too minimalist and simple, there is no personality in it, that is, some sort of raisin (in contrast, say, from the basic Ardbegs and Lafrougs). And the rest is very good - a spicy, well-balanced, absolutely non-spirituous, soft and warm whisky.

Fortunately reminiscent of a 16-year-old Lagavulin, from which one has removed his fruity subset. Overall, this single malt shines with soothing smoke and spice, while the sweetness is not neglected. The flavor levels that are included are wonderfully mastered.

Okayish, but it comes out a bit rough and industrial over with cutter diesel, heavy fuel oil and sooty smokehouse.

A light, lemony peat combines advantageously with woody reflections and red fruits. Cherry, vanilla. It's fresh. We smell iodine, the tide, a little coarse salt. On the beach, one day at low tide. The foam, the kelp, and a few small crustaceans that escape. The entry in the mouth is sparkling, spicy, fruity, always in balance, varnish, barley, and a very small touch of caramel. The almost acrid peat emerges on the finish, with a power delicately contained by the oak and barley. It's long in the mouth, with a hint of honey and earth, a little oily grass. It's oily and salty. Really a good whisky, all in control and power, varied, between fruits and peat, and in small touches. An excellent marriage between iodine, peat and red fruits. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2020/05/caol-ila-12-yo-43-original-bottling.html

One of the best whiskys in this price range. It has a lot of sweets, smoke and seaweed. In my opinion, it tastes much better in the finish than in the aroma. Alcohol very well hidden, does not dominate and does not cover all the advantages of this whisky.

Nice, and the aroma a really very independent standard bottling at a very fair price. Of course I would be happy if Caol Ila switched to 46% drinking strength, but that is probably not to be expected, any more than with Lagavulin.

2nd review after 17 months. WB average value went up with 9 € in less than 1,5 year and the overall rating came down for this bottle from 86 to 83.63 points. Very slow and oily tears in the glass (sorry if this is a pleonasm). An almost perfect peaty smoke aroma. Fresh sour touch. More sour apple and soft lime than strong citrus. Pears and malty vanilla. Beautiful nose all together. For taste I get the better entry this week. Of course you get that little oily and peaty taste in front but it comes with a complex variation of flavours. There's that malt vanilla, sweet pears, tobacco smoke and spices all fighting for the best place but they stay in line in a very good balance. Perfect standard whisky for a good price.

A classic Isaly peated-smoke malt, with a low price for his quality. Undubitable one of best dram that you can find in ordinary market-retailers

Frankly, a nice surprise; I was expecting the worst. In the end, an entry-level that is a very good introduction to peat. A nice whisky as a whole.

I like this, but my biggest problem is that I taste it hours after I have finished the dram.  Once, it woke me up in the middle of the night.  Caol Ila!!!  The 18 is more subdued, and one of my stock whiskies.

I feel like this old favourite has improved enough to earn an extra point (83 -> 84) over Laphroaig 10yo (83), mostly due to the watery body the latter has at 40%.

S 7 Actually not bad even at 43%, vibrant smoke and juicy fruits. Consistent throughout in delivery. A great daily traditional peated Islay dram if in the £30 - £40 range. I’d imagine this goes well with baked lemon butter cod.

Can I keep this brief because we're not really connecting? Everything is as it should be, and nothing is special. My impression is exactly as I described in those two sentences: respectful, but a little bored.

A good, solid and easily accessible single malt that you can always drink - 06.12.2015

"Medium weight, but still packing plenty of potent phenols, this is a refined, powerful dram with a compensating oiliness. A balanced, peaty beauty." International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010: Gold Medal - Best in Class; Trophy for Best Single Malt Whisky Under 15 Years Old TWE

Balanced and surprisingly sweet.

Medical peat in the nose and an oily sweetness in the mouth. The first mouth feel surprised with its strength and power. That bottle starts with very intesive coastal notes, but stops suddenly.

Smoky and fruity aroma, banana, tar, yellow apples, honey, cardamom and fir branches. Medium sweet taste, juniper berries, pepper, smoked mackerel, peated malt and vanilla. Long smoky and malty end.

(A sample) young peated malt, quite fresh and clean

A classic islay, low price for an excellent whisky. Together with Laphroaig an Bruichladdich my favorite distillery on the island.

Nose: mild peat. Sweetness of oak cask. Red fruit, hint of vanilla and cream. more Iodine and sweetness. Taste: peat, some citrus notes. Sweet oak shavings. Blueberries (huh?). Hint of caramel and toffee-cream. Body: medium. Not much special to tell. Finish: medium. Some smoke and liqourish. A little dusty cellar note. Price: quite reasonable in these times of excessive prices. Presentation: Moderate, not much blablabla so it's ok. Comments: well I now know that it's not much of my liking. Peat and me just don't go along very well.

like a full flavored (more potent) version of connemara original

My favorite Islay salmon.

I do prefer CS drams, but this is good stuff. Great bang for your buck.

12/16/2023 30 ml A classic, everyone should try it, as it brings together the best of the world of ex-bourbon with an ever-present and light peat. Pleasant. One day I will have a bottle, God willing!

If you like and look for something similar, try Caol Ila 13th Manzanilla finish by Chieftain's or BenRiach 12y Herodotus Fumosus.

What a lackluster and utterly boring smoky single malt! Gave it another chance after a few years and the - consistent (usually a virtue, not in this case, though) - mediocrity prevailed again. Don't get me wrong, it's still decently made malt without major flaws, off-notes, etc. save one: personality. Where Lagavulin, even in its recent 8 yo bottling with scarce wood influence shows exiting notes, Ardbeg Ten remains a proven Islay entry and a Laphi 10/Quarter Cask exude medicinal uniqueness, Caol Ila 12 tastes like some sort of bare-bone peated Islay malt, before it's given its personality. Maybe that's just that, the competition is too stiff? Not too long ago, Caol Ila knew and acknowleded they were pretty much the weakest Islay distillery regarding their standard range. Their pricing reflected that. Now, with the (presumed) hype of Scotch whisky in my humble opinion they try to play with the big boys. Too bad they are not there, neither with the 12, nor the 18 or the cask strength. With pricing as it is today, I strongly advise anybody to get an independent bottling of Caol Ila. There are many good ones out there, almost all of them better than what the distillery puts out.

Tasted on 09-24-2021 in Bergisch Gladbach.

light golden color, a slight oily movement in the glass, slow tears.

solid Islay smoker, 84 points

A great classic! But somehow it feels like a few drops of sherry is added... Great!

A seriously complex dram, incredible value for money.

it is getting better and better in my opinion and it is getingt peatier and fatter as well....well done!!

2021-04-10

A well produced Islay peated malt.Peaty , apple, pears, citrus fruit, salty notes. Good entry to Islay peated malts without breaking the bank.

The sugar notes are there but quite restricted. Herbal, smoky salt water lead the flavor profile. It is quite interesting to compare with an unpeated Caol Ila as well, a lot of the sweeter flavors are there as well but needs water and time in the glass to be noticed. (Rating interval 83-86)

Caol ila's unique character is abundant, rich body compared to alcohol strength, intuitive and richer fruit than expected, very good whisky for price

Caol Ila 12 year old, SMSW 43%. 30ml sample June 2022. Natural-looking paleish yellow. Aroma is a nice mix. All the following mix into one another: Vanilla and biscuit, salted rusks, seaweed, cat paws, minty alcohol, burnt seeds, celery. Plenty going on. There’s a sweetness that’s mostly caramelised but could imply tropical fruit. Body is moderately oily. Taste is light and easy up front, soft salt and smoke behind the easy watered-down spirit impressions. The spirit is at the fore of the flavour and the cask just brings a little supporting vanilla-like sweetness. No real heat to it at all (and this is my first whisky of the evening). The aroma has a few different things going on whereas the palate delivers salt and subtle smoke in a more straight-forward way. The typical Caol Ila brine carries on into the linger and the breathy smoke starts to build given time. Becoming seaweedy on the palate after two thirds of the dram are gone. It’s a classic profile at a great price (available at £31 a 70cl bottle at the time of drinking). It’s lovely, but not capable of ousting the south Islay trio from my whisky shelf. 3.575/85

A delicious classic from Islay. Simply tasty and something to always look back on.

The best entry-level OB Islay in my view. Such subtletly, such coherency, and such display of what the Caol DNA can be ... at that age, proof and price, well, no wonder it's been my profile picture since the beginning hehe. Caol 12 is Caol 12 ; you can start looking for the most peculiar things during months and years, and then one day you get back to it, and you think, well, what have I been looking for elsewhere ? Can't go higher than 87 because it still feels a tiny-bit bourbon driven at times, I wish it was even more naked. But still worthy of a big fat 87 at least (and in that regard, I never understood how Laga 16 is being given such praise while this one isn't ; their relative quality is similar to me, that is to say very high. Caol 12 deserves more love !)

I would go for laphroaig qc at similar price

Blind sample I made a few years back. A bit weak for sure, but surprisingly complex with nice ripe red apples and long lasting minerality. I almost had a certain Campbeltown malt in mind while tasting.

*** ????: white wine ????: intense peat, warm seaweed, fresh, cut, young, slightly biting, sweet, ????: spicy, astringent, intensely peat, slightly spicy, sweet, flattens quickly, ????: smoky, sweet, short, slightly warming, a bit tart at the end * Basic "warm and seaweed" peat, no special depth etc, it was a bit short of "OK". * ????: 3.5 / 10 ????: 83/100

Bottle open for about 1.5 years Fill level 50%

Such an interesting whisky. Adding water helps, but by gentle with the water. 1 teaspoon per dram at the most. Otherwise it drowns the taste. And as always: give it time.

An excellent daily dram, with a good quality/price rapport.

Very good, smoky, peated whisky. Fantastic to alternative daily use.

Caol Ila 12 This was a re-taste after many years of a Drinks By The Dram sample. It really surprised me how much better this was than in my memory. Maybe not very complex, but close to nectar on this night with this sample. Cheers!

Youtube Review: https://youtu.be/5mnD_hUuRfA

Like most things from Islay - just good :)

Peaty smoke, vanilla, citruses, citric zest, sweet roasted malt, tropical fruits, fragnant. Light: gum. Very strong character. Empty glass keeps notes of dried fruits and smoked meat for 4 days (and counting)! The only disdvantage is that the whisky could be more variable. But it is great anyway.

recommend

I prefer the nose without water.

A staple of peated malt whisky I guess? I would have enjoyed it more with a sweeter mouth fell, however I can see the appeal of this for others. Very decent value for money.

I dont like this, must be the worst whisky i have had. How has it got 84 points !!!!!!

Caol Ila 12-Year is a well-crafted Islay malt with a strong peat presence that doesn’t overpower its fruity and malty nuances. The interplay of smoke, citrus, and menthol is intriguing, making it dynamic yet approachable. The low ABV ensures a smooth experience, though the faint bitterness on the finish detracts slightly from the overall enjoyment. The whisky is balanced and lively, with just enough complexity to keep the drinker engaged. Despite minor drawbacks, it delivers a solid Islay experience that pairs smoky depth with subtle brightness.

Batch: L8022

Very nice profile, very singular among the Islay entry levels. Both fresh and oily, i liked it. Worth a try.

I think the colour of this whisky is pale straw, with a peaty nose as well as some fruit; the taste is a little briny with peat, lemon and (too much) salt; this whisky finishes long with a good peat and tar aroma. I like this whisky, but it`s certainly not a top whisky; more a moderate one!

Nice and peaty, phenolic, not sweet, more salty, very full but seems to lack something in the balance. I love peat and definitely love this one, due to its recognisable differences from Laphroaigh and Ardbeg.

Good standard of Caol Ila. Like at a low price

I find the game between smoke, sweet and fruit very interesting. I liked that very much

A lovely Islay, value for money.

Essential to apprehend the world of islay and peat. Excellent value.

The best description I can find for this whisky is "surprisingly generic".

Light in color but really good whisky, smoke but still quite nice

typical islay smoker, relatively restrained, a bit earthy / spicy, slightly floral, more campfire, not phenolic

A classic Islay malt in my book. Enjoyable every time, though not a beast of a malt.

Very light and fresh on the nose, dried lemon peel with some banana, vanilla and seaweed. Relatively watery in the mouth and slightly spicy. In the finish with and with cold ash, behind that green banana and some wood. Length: 7/10 All in all, a solid smoker who suffers a little from the alcohol content. Also inferior in character to a Kilchoman or Ardbeg with similar parameters in my opinion. Grade: 2+

Tasting note from 4th of February 2005. Enjoyed at Bishops Arms pub in Helsingborg, Sweden

Rounded smoky full-bodied goodness. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks. Slowly forming primary legs. Narrow secondary legs. Chill-filtered. Coloured. A classic Islay scotch. Interesting interplay between the smoke and the water added.

A classic! Iodized / smoked profile quite well balanced and very appreciable, but too one-dimensional. A good introduction to the Caol Ila range. And very good value for money.

The main reason why I gave this whisky such a high score is because of its cost performance. And it's the balance of whisky that goes beyond most of the same years whisky

Adore most expressions from Caol Ila and this is no exception, personally don't find the peat to be as strong an influence as I expected but it makes it's presence felt

Still a very underrated malt. Smoke that is not too intrusive, nice citrus notes, decent mouthfeel. Sensible ABV. What more could you want from a 12 year old original bottling.

Perfect balanced and a great aperitif.

Some would say boring about Caol Ila 12, I think it's delicious and just calmly honest. A distillery that for me stands for solid craftsmanship and high quality, despite the large quantities that are bottled. Clear recommendation for the small budget!

84-

it has indeed lost deepth. i compared it directly with a small bottle from 2011.

A recommendation for peat lovers. Not a showstopper, but a pleasant, interesting whisky that has everything a whisky needs: smoke, salt, sweetness, and spice.

At first sight a typical heavy peated Islay whisky, but surprisingly sweeter and more delicate than expected

Smoke goes right through this malt as does the marine character. 2 or three minutes later I'm now getting a fishy and spicy finish

Good standard whisky, not as wild as Laphroaig and Ardbeg.

Open, with a neat ashy smoke, minerals and sea salt, fruit components (lemons and apples), pronounced peppery spices, as well as leather and tobacco. The taste is pungent, almost completely repeats the nose, but adds a little spicy spices. The finish is short. The sample is not complex, but quite vibrant, and could be a great entry point for those just starting to try smoky whiskys.

A typical Islay, but smoother. Way smoother than I suspected

Very successful standard, which is very independent and leaves a great impression with pleasant freshness and enough corners and edges.

2018 bottling. Really good and underrated these days. It's a shame they don't bump the ABV higher for this release.⁣

Review from a bottle open for 2 years, but with sufficient content to avoid losing the quality of the liquid. Considering this is a 12 year old Islay standard, its often vastly under appreciated and under priced too. Probably the best value for money younger age stated Islay. (I paid 33€ for 1 liter in 2018.)

PLV outstanding. Often underestimated. In addition to Talisker 10 unbeatable in the price segment and must not hide from higher-priced Malts.

I always like it better! An outstanding standard, PLV almost unbeatable! Gentle, soft smoke, not medically. Rather chimney smoke. Islay-typical salty, sea breeze, sea spray ...? Citrus but not as strong as Bowmore. Who does not know him yet, definitely try! Also for advanced very recommendable! 86/100

Very nice Islay whisky. Slightly watery but overall well balanced. I feel like lighting the BBQ after half a dram.

If you go for an islayer and are starting the journey, go for this! Clean and crisp, the profile is strong enough for the low strength and some nice strong peat with lemony and tarry tones. Juts very, very nice.

Nose of fire of wood. Well peated and smoked, notes of new leather, slightly saline, long. Good.

Category: Single Malt Producer and bottler: Caol Ila Distillery (Diageo) Region: Islay Fortress: 43% Volume: 750 ml Bottling date: 11/21/2019 Barrel type: ? Age: 12 years old Filtering: ? Dye: present Aromatics. Weakly peaty release. No bonfires, conflagrations, smoking factories, rather soot and soot, cooled coals. Fine, beautiful, fresh, sour-salty, mineral nose. This is how the salty sea waves breaking on the rocky coast appear. There are also remarkable fruit and berry shades (lime, currant, gooseberry, kiwi, green apples, olives) that make this whisky related to a good white Sauvignon from New Zealand, the theme of apple-lemon pie, smoked bacon and some spices (pepper and vanilla), soda. If you are primarily attracted to burnt-peaty aromas, I recommend not to delay the “destruction” of the bottle too much, because. they become more and more depleted over time. Taste. All flavors are in perfect harmony with each other, smoothly flowing one into another, none of them "pulls the blanket" over itself, deliberately creeping out to the fore. On the palate, you can easily find fruits, burnt and smoked bacon, pepper, citrus zest, sea salt with subtle ink-iodine motifs, vanilla and some sweet pastries. Someone will say that the taste, perhaps, lacks density, richness and complexity, but such a “light” style also has the right to exist and personally evokes only positive emotions in me and is always ideal for any mood and circumstances. Aftertaste. As refreshing and sour as the main palate, not powerful, medium or just below average in duration. Weak peat trail, sea water, citrus fruits, vanilla. An excellent whisky for immersing neophytes in the peaty style in general and the Isles style in particular. Suitable for an experienced amateur, because the distillery clearly has its own unique style, which cannot be confused with other producers. Easily digestible, but very interesting and rich in various flavor and aroma nuances for a 12 year old whisky release. I love, appreciate and recommend to everyone. Rating: 84 out of 100.

Nice peated whisky. The production of this distillery is among the best even in the Diageo group, but its taste is still exquisite, and it has not lost its level because of its production. The whole is biased towards bourbon barrels, full of floral peat, Very similar to Ledaig 10yo in my tasting experience, It's a pity that this bottle of Caol Ila 12yo has a sour taste of overripe citrus, which I personally don't like. And the ABV% is only 43%, resulting in a slightly inferior odor performance. The taste score is 85, and the price doesn't affect the score.

August 28, 2022 76 / 100 Color: Straw, caramel colored. AROMA - 19 / 25 Peaty and sweet. Delicate notes of citrus and prunes, maple syrup, and a subtle aroma of old barrels. Alcohol under control, overall simple and pleasant. TASTE - 18 / 25 A campfire with notes of banana and caramel, and a significant tannin content. Alcohol is controlled, but I expected more excitement. FINISH - 20 / 25 Pleasant, quite long and pungent with a hint of dark chocolate. BALANCE - 19 / 25 After drinking many others and getting to know the potential of the independent IB, it no longer impresses, but without taking it away, it is a pleasant, simple, tasty, peaty Whisky, a great way to start your Islay adventure.

What kind of peat is this? It is the most easygoing I have tasted thus far. Can't shake the carribean sphere of this scotch. Reminds me of partagas cigars. Really enjoyed the nose. The finish is not my cup of tea. Maybe a little bit too sweet, which only appeals to part of my palate. Initial mark: 83/100 Most recent mark: 80/100

A highly underrated whisky and a favourite "daily dram".  Gentle, salty smoke and a honeyed malty sweetness with a clean grassy finish.  Quintessential Islay.

Cafe de Toeter in Groningen, 07-09-2015

Overall, I really enjoyed this whisky. It presents very clear and distinct notes of salt, lemon, and minerals. On the nose, there's a rich variety of aromas – sweet, salty, smoky, you name it. It just needs a little aeration. It's extremely smooth. Only the finish is a little weaker, probably due to the 43 abv alcohol, but that's not important at all. It's a whisky you can enjoy every day.

This is not a very expressive whisky, but with its iodized-peaty hints, its few fruits, its pretty texture and its relatively low price, becomes an interesting daily dram.

Sample from 'the tasting collection'. Pours a rather light yellow, with only a milder golden shine. Aroma is strong - to say the least. Even pouring the sample out fills the room with aroma's. Scent is strong peaty, sharp dirt, smoke, ashy, burnt wood almost. Not my type of nose - as expected. Taste is medium intense, charred barrel, dirt, peat ( who'd expect ? ) full, woody side that goes well with the peat. however, where the ardbeg Ubigail ( sorry if I butchered that name ) provided a decent mouth and an amazing finish, this whisky evolves less to me. It circles more around the peat, and offers little outside of that. Definately not undrinkable or anything like that, just not for me.

This is probably the first peaty whisky I had more than ten years ago. I liked it, but my love for peat really came to fruition years later. In my opinion there are nowadays a bit better options in this category. Ledaig 10 comes to mind as a similar combination of peat and maritime notes. And it has 46% (over that even). If you want to get the gentle side of Islay peat, this would be it though. There is a lot of peat though. Not Ardbeg 10 levels. But relatively close to that.

A nice sipper, missing some % for complexity.

Always nice to find back in every bottle its golden clear colour and smoky taste. Not particularly complex for an Islay malt, but I appreciate its lemon and grass notes, refreshingly warm for a peaty malt.

Harmonious,hard to distinguish individual components

You can find our review here http://www.whiskybros.com/#!Caol-Ila-12yo/c21kp/5725c3910cf26b6d6847ca38

Everything has already been said above An easy-access entry point for the uninitiated. Nice balance between fruit, salt and peat it offers a lot for a very reasonable price One of the best quality/price ratios on the market. Which earns him a few more points

Light and fresh, with a lot of smoke.

Must have for peated enthusiasts. Especially for this price!

When in its best shape, this is a great Islay malt that has exceptional balance, beautiful aroma, superb taste, enough complexity and no serious weaknesses. I love its finish, in which delicate smoke gradually rises from your throat and fills your sinuses, causing an effect similar to that when using snuff. Dividing the sip into two consecutive smaller ones makes the experience even stronger.

A gentle and mild one, perfectly balanced, always enjoyed the warm taste after dinner.

Aroma, taste, price.

Typical Caol Ila.

Color: golden yellow Nose: light smoke, wood, citrus fruits, wet leather, tobacco (?), Salt Palate: At first, it seems a bit watery, but only to immediately overtake itself in a taste explosion! Quite bulky for 43%. The aromas, especially the smoke, are well integrated and it spreads a pleasant warmth in the mouth. Wood notes are clearly perceptible. Finish: Long finish, which surprised me positively in this intensity. Light to medium astringent, which makes the overall impression very good for me. Conclusion: Who can do something with the Laga 16 and the Talisker 10, is in good hands with the CI 12. Value-for-money Whisky!

Nose: Palate: Christmas cake. Spices and oaky bitterness. Not overly complex Finish: oak and more spices. A hint of citrus. Medium long

Brutal whisky from the island of Islay

Good entry level stuff. Calls for strength in alcohol, body and taste.

A bit monolithic but in the good sense of the term (still needs to like this style). Perfect in daily dram and very affordable.

12-year-old Caol Ila Tasted 2014-07-20 @ WhiskyInteam Spaden Reminiscent of campfires, full-bodied sharply with heather and complex, very good! 84

smoke burnt sugar mineral notes A little bit of spice and spiciness very tasty

Fruity peat bomb. Very pleasant malt

Pleasant, smoky, rather light whisky. Bottle purchased Alloy and tasted at home from summer 2015 onwards.

Aroma: Gentle and subtle, vegetal, grassy, slightly salty, evoking an abandoned grassy beach, fading bonfire smoke, sweet notes, lemon, and lemon zest Taste: Sweet and smoky, with citrus notes at first, slightly vegetal, followed by a smoke that fades pleasantly, mildly spicy, with a fairly long, smoky, dying finish Overall Impression: An ideal introduction to Islay whisky, the smokiness isn’t overwhelming and is well balanced with the vegetal–citrus profile, a good whisky at a reasonable price

Nice Dailydram but nothing special

It's fresh, retains a clear seaside influence throughout, and has the captivating quality of getting just a little bit better at each stage, from nose to finish. Excellent whisky let down by its low ABV.

Price quality a great peated whisky. A must have for every whisky drinker.

Smoke, peat, citrus, vanilla, quite delicate.

Caol Ila 12 - 43% CF, Colored Caol Ila 12, my second bottle from Islay. I got it as a present from my friend a year ago. Half-fill level. A great whisky for how neutered it is. This is standard mass-market ex-bourbon Islay.

Caol Ila is in my top 5 favorite distilleries, but this expression is boring.  Thin body, and there`s not enough of that wonderful motor oil I love so much in the CS Indy bottles.  Oh well, if the lack of popularity of this 12yr helps keep the outstanding indy bottles so affordable, I`m all for it!

Good Daily, interesting and definitely worth a try for the price.

Delicious. If you need something strong. I miss the complex notes.

Not knowing much about this whisky I was prepared to take a gamble. Bought the bottle, had 2 drams, and the rest went to the kitchen where it even did not last very long in cooking. I thought it had an absolute foul taste. I`m not a peat fan so that does not help of course, but this, it blew my head off in a negative way. I hope I just had a particular bad bottle or so, but, I don`t think so. Try before you buy.

This is one of the bottles I introduce to a beginner who wants to explore islay malts. It showcases clearly the peat smoke character but it is not that strong that it might scare a novice away or turn them off peated whiskies. What I personally like about caol ila is that the distillery character of juicy red apples that will be apparent if you take some time to nose it. It's a solid islay offering.

I liked the smell, it's like Talisker 10 but more subtle. It was interesting. The taste is also basically okay, but while Talisker 10 is a bit of a peppery vodka, this one is really like smoking Captain Jack for the first time. The smoke was decent. The aftertaste is lingering. Overall, it's not bad, but it's an acquired taste. I like Talisker better so far.

Peaty, dry, yeasty, slightly fruity, citrus, interesting whisky, worth the price

This is a great value whisky, reminds me of Lagavulin 16,not just because of the bottle. Sweet smoke, beautifully integrated. I call it thinking whisky, makes me wanna be alone, with a pipe, reading or writing. Bottle that I will buy again. Fairly oily, medium plus body, finish short. Whisky got flat but only after a year and when it was 4/5 empty.

I like this whisky a lot, and find it to be somewhat underrated.  I end up enjoying this as much as almost any other of the widely available peated single malts (at this price range).  I don't find this to be "worse" than the Lagavulin 16, or the Ardbeg 10, just different.  Plus, it is refreshingly pale for a whisky that does not claim to be (so far as I know) natural color.  Holding a glass of this side by side with JW Black Label brought me a chuckle.

Caol Ila 12 is a light and fresh single malt that showcases the distillery’s signature style of peat smoke and maritime character. The finish is long and lingering.This whisky is easy to drink

Peaty, sweet and fresh

gentle peat, complex layers. and contained fruity zest than other islay malts. balanceable dram. but this dram doesn't look like typical islay peat character.

Wonderful medical smoke, which is replaced by a beautiful, sweet and full body. I wish for a better synthesis of these two sides. For me they are sometimes a bit unconnected side by side. But that may be a matter of taste. Definitely a must have in the bar!

It’s lemon-butter sauteed broccoli, toasty walnuts and charcoal, all wrapped in a nice blanket of olive oil - if olive oil had no sour notes. A little grilled lemon-seasoned salmon on the nose and first taste

Overall sweet and spicy with a slightly fruity scent but I felt that the finish could have been longer. Quite balanced with not too much peat. Great for beginners to intermediate drinkers who are focusing on Islay based distilleries. Great value for money.

i dont like it

My favorite Islay distillery. Their core 12 year is a very nice whisky but unfortunately, just about every independent bottling is better. Low proof point and chill filtering definitely takes a bite out of it. In my area, at least, Caol Ila is not a big mass market label. I can barely find this in stores. If it's that way elsewhere as well, I would think that Diagio could do better with this if they targeted the whisky nerds. But maybe they make so much money selling to Johnny Walker that they don't care.