Caol Ila 2009-2021 | 12 Year Old | Berry Bros & Rudd Single Cask 318772

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled by: Berry Bros & Rudd 70cl / 55.7%

There's been a spate of 2009 and 2010 Caol Ilas coming through from the indie bottlers this year and they've all been excellent, so when our posh friends Berry Bros & Rudd get in on the action any Islay whisky fans should get excited.

This is a 12-year-old Caol Ila 2009, bottled from a single hogshead 318772 by Berry Bros, yielding 311 bottles at its natural cask strength of 55.7% and we'd be very surprised if it was anything less than terrific. The 2009 Caol Ilas we've already tasted have been absolutely classic Caol Ila in style, with lashings of peat and saline, and a little balancing sweetness from the wood.

Attributes

Tasting Notes

Nose: The nose is initially deceptively gentle, offering icing sugar and a slight earthy smoke, though time in the glass crescendos the coastal peat showing muscular phenolic character.

Palate: The palate gives more notes of peat smoke along with damp wool, icing sugar, slight floral notes, and more peat smoke!

Finish: The finish is unmistakably coastal fading slowly with flavours of kippers, tar and yet more smoke.

Ronnie Cox Says

“Caol Ila is a ‘must-visit’ distillery if you go to Islay not only, of course, for the legendary dram but, almost as importantly, it has the best still-house view of any distillery in Scotland. In this case it looks out over the Sound of Jura and the tidal rush. I promise you won’t regret it even if it’s raining... which is not unusual...”