When entering the world of peated whisky the ones that made the first positive impressions were those of the lightly peated kind. My first foray into all things peat was Laphroaig and that but the frighteners on me truth be told. Probably not the wisest of starting positions looking back.
But then came brands like Highland Park and Talisker and I was gently nudged into the peaty wonderland. After sharing a bottle of Talisker 10 with friends I can clearly remember one of them asking me if I'd tried Caol Ila. 'No, never even heard of it' was the reply to which the response was 'well we need to buy a bottle'.
Subsequently a bottle was bought and consumed (at a different date, the Bezos marketplace wasn't operating at full swing back then) and a good time was had. It also positively reinforced in my brain that peated whiskies were not just acceptable but also very enjoyable.
For a while I'd wager Caol Ila was my favourite Islay distillery, until I discovered Ardbeg 10 year old. In recent years I've kind of fallen out of love of Caol Ila but only in the realms of official bottlings. Over priced and under presented (ie low abv, chill filtered, coloured) I'd turned my attentions elsewhere for peat and if I did buy Caol Ila i'd look at the indie bottlers.
Fast forward to 2019 (yes I know this review is in 2025...but I've stated before I'm extremely tardy with reviews) and I found myself in Glasgow for the Malt 'Anti Old & Rare Show' tasting with Rover and a few select others. Part of the mission was not only to enjoy a rather fabulous charity tasting but also to mule some Cadenhead's bottles back to Ireland for Ian O'Brien who was working for Waterford Distillery at the time.
As payment for my muling endeavours I was rewarded with a number of samples of which this review is one....a 36 year old Caol Ila.
Let's Taste!
Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection Caol Ila 36 Year Old 54.4%
Casked 1982, bottled Nov 2018, bourbon hogshead maturation, 120 bottles, £400
Nose: This smells awesome! Oily, sooty and very coastal. Camphor, iodine, smoked oysters, grilled chestnut mushrooms and leather. Now e get the fruit – cantaloupe melon, papaya, Seville oranges. Licorice, salted caramel praline & milk chocolate all interwoven with a gentle sweet peat. Water brings out lemon oil, mint and a waxiness .
Palate: A lovely, creamy texture to this – intensely medicinal, oysters, brine and tar. Lemon and lime peel. Oak. Black tea and shy peat smoke. Not as fruity as the nose but the tropical notes are still there as well as garden mint and olive oil. Subdued black pepper along with hessian and old leather. Water makes it more brackish and salty.
Finish: Long with salted caramel, coal dust, pepper and citrus oils.
Score: 9 out of 10
Overall: Just an exceptional whisky and one I didn’t want to end. So many layers to this both in the aroma and the palate it. Definitely a whisky to take your time over and savour to let those waves of smell and taste take you on a coastal journey of bliss. This dram also had that fun combination of being both fresh and zingy but also waxy and leathery at the same time. Vibrant but mature. I don’t give out 9’s very often and it’s a pleasure to finally get to those heady heights again.
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