Caol Ila 2007

Posted 24 November 2021 by Matt / In Caol Ila
The Dramble reviews The Whisky Exchange Caol Ila 2007 13 year old

Bottle Name: Caol Ila 2007

ABV: 55.6%
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: The Whisky Exchange
Region: Islay Age: 13
Glass Weight: 489g

The second Caol Ila from the final 2021 release of TWE single casks has been matured in “a single cask”?! – which I’m guessing can only be ex-bourbon but is entirely unspecified on The Whisky Exchange website. Nevertheless, 13 years of maturation, 55.6% of ABV and £84.95 of cost.

Nose: Lemon sponge cake and squid ink sit with sea breeze, lime sherbet and maritime-focussed peat smoke. Earthy – smouldering soils, wet leaf fires and a selection of clay and putties sit together with prominent candied lemon peels. Water reveals apple turnovers and white chocolate – and ups the lemony influence even further.

Taste: Compact, dense and impactful. Preserved lemon, lime cordial and chocolate sauce sit with intense medicinal peat smoke – surface cleaner, antiseptic, and hints of Lemon Pledge. In the background granite and limestone provide expected rockiness alongside more earthy qualities of damp soils. Reduction presents lemon posset and lemon gel – a less medicinal, more fruity-focussed profile now.

Finish: Long and very Caol Ila – rocks, lemon and medicinal smoke.

Teenage Caol Ila is always on my radar. Whilst I’ve got time for the spirit at all ages – when just coming into ‘whisky puberty – Caol Ila retains much of its potency, whilst it starts to develop some deeper and broader notes that sit alongside its stereotypical profile. This TWE edition does exactly that – and therefore it’s graded as very good and worth you time.

Review sample provided by The Whisky Exchange

Score: 85/100


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