Caol Ila 15, 1966, Sestante import, Aquavitae, 65.3% abv.

Bartender was telling me the Caol Ila distillery closed in the early 70s so the whisky in the 60s is very different from the whisky from the 70s and forward. He feels the 60s Caol Ila is more citrusy, orange zest, while the 70s took on a different profile. I looked up the history of the distillery and found that it actually did close in 1972, to make way for a larger and more improved distillery. I surmise it was perhaps at that point that the Caol Ila malt was the same being sent to Lagavulin AND/OR Caol Ila "changed" to a different production process, different when compared to Lagavulin. All in all, it has been considered the powerhouse in many blends, showing consistency and diversity throughout the ages.

Nose: salty, burnt rice.

Palate: full body, dry, full honey sweetness, controlled mollasses, perhaps super baked watermelon, doesn't feel like 65% abv, why is it so good?!?!, back palate has a hint of smoke, but it's mostly solid honey, light fruits, some boiled citrus. A delectable palate of sweetness.

Finish: medium to long, spicey honey, abv coats the mouth, smoke is there.

Another amazing scotch! Seriously doesn't feel like its 65% abv. Never knew Caol Ila produced something like this, but all their stuff has great body with a strong taste on the back end. Its basically a very controlled refined honey/baked watermelon profile with accompanying fruits and smoke/spice in a minor background chorus, but it does the honey profile so well.

Grade: A

Couldn't find any quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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