Islay whiskies are known to be smoky, robust and high character. One of them is Caol Ila that maintains the balance between peat and grace. Although the other Islay malts can be tough, Caol Ila is light and subtle without being dull and two-dimensional. This is why it is ideal to both the novices and seasoned whisky enthusiasts.
This blog looks at some of the best Caol Ila whiskies to have as part of your Islay collection and a few wine accompaniments such as Croix Du Marquis Cabernet Sauvignon 75cl and Kangaroo Ridge Merlot 75cl 13.5% to these great drinks.
Caol Ila 2016 Signatory Vintage Islay Selection 70cl 46%
Caol Ila 2016 Signatory Vintage Islay Selection 70cl 46 is a wonderful example of the flavor of the distillery. It has been aged in highly chosen casks, which provide it with fresh coastal scents, mild peat smoke and a slight citrus taste. It has a smooth palate with a combination of sweet malt and subtle spice with a clean and lingering end.
This bottling is a fine starting point on the independent Caol Ila releases. It keeps the same character of the distillery with a little bit of other side of the coin compared to the official bottlings. To collectors, it is a bottle that can always be kept in stock to be used to drink casual or tasting sessions.
Caol Ila 2008 The Victim Signatory Vintage
Caol Ila 2008 The Victim Signatory Vintage is a more mature expression and more complex. The smoke is transformed by more than ten years of maturity into a mature, earthy aroma, which is counterbalanced by sweet vanilla and orchard fruits. The texture is full and the finish is long with the slightest amount of oak and brine.
This whisky demonstrates the effect that time has on the Caol Ila profile, which becomes softened, and more complex. It is the perfect stuff to collectors who like aged Islay malts that are bright and yet develop a smoother edge with age.
Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 Sauternes Cask
The Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 Sauternes Cask introduces some sweet twist to the traditional Islay style. French dessert wine cask imparts honey and apricot, as well as floral flavor to the smoky base of the whisky. Its outcome is a mouthwatering sweet peat combo, which is ideal in the case of those who like their drams with more of a dessert-like finish.
It is an excellent illustration of the quality of cask finishing that can be done on Islay whisky without killing its natural flavour. It has a rare flavor profile and limited availability that collectors find appealing.
Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 Burgundy Cask
Another I have tried is the Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 Burgundy Cask which is a creative cask finish, using Burgundy red wine barrels. The red berry fruitiness, light spice, and darker color are introduced into the whisky by the influence. The peat has not been lost and harmonizes with the fruity sweetness of the wine in a perfect manner.
It is a risky bottle that people should take who desire to have something new in their Islay collection. The ambiguity of a smoky maritime character and the combination of the rich wine influence promotes it as an outstanding option to employ during tasting sessions.
Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2011 Signatory Vintage
Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2011 Signatory Vintage is a comprehensive dram that has a ten-year of maturation in the tropics. It has that fresh smoke and citrus zest you find in Caol Ila, yet warmer caramel, apple and spice notes of cask maturation.
It is a flexible whisky and therefore attractive to lovers of peat and those who prefer more moderate single malts. It is good value to collectors and at the same time brings complexity and age.
Pairing Caol Ila with Fine Wines
Whisky and wine might add up to different worlds but having the two together is a fruitful experience. Croix Du Marquis Cabernet Sauvignon 75cl that is thick and red as a deep red color is the right match to Caol Ila whisky because of its smokiness that makes it warm and deep. The fruitier side of wine-finished Caol Ila expressions is brimming in the softer Croix Du Marquis Merlot 75cl 12%.
To white wine enthusiasts, Croix Du Marquis Sauvignon Blanc 75cl 11.5 has crisp acidity, which is a nice contrast to the peat and sweet malt of the malt. In Australia, Kangaroo Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 75cl 13.5% will offer big dark fruit characters to match with heavily peated whiskies and Kangaroo Ridge Merlot 75cl 13.5% is light and smooth, perfect with lighter, citrusy Islay whiskies.
Conclusion
Caol Ila is the necessary addition to the scope of Islay whiskies. Whether it be the approachable Caol Ila 2016 Signatory Vintage Islay Selection 70cl 46%, the more experimental finishes such as the Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 Sauternes Cask, all bottles demonstrate the talent of the distillery in balancing peat, sweetness and coastal freshness.
The experience can even be made better with the addition of wine pairings such as Croix Du Marquis Cabernet Sauvignon 75cl or Kangaroo Ridge Merlot 75cl 13.5%. Caol Ila is more than a whisky to enjoy at Liquor Kingdom- it is a whisky to keep, share and experience in years to come.
