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Caol Ila 12 Year Old
Available with Engraving

Caol Ila 12 Year Old

(0.75l, 43%)


7.9/10
Price:
$72.99
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The Islay Youngster.
 
The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 by Hector Handerson on the Isle of Islay, in a location overlooking the strait between Islay and Jura, hence the name which derived from Gaeliec Caol Ìle, meaning Sound of Islay or literary, Islay Strait. Over the years Caol Ila has changed owners numerious times, eventually it became part of Diageo.
 
Caol Ila 12 Year Old is a malt that takes you back to the coastal shores it comes from. Hailing from Islay, this is a smoky and sweet expression, a classic combination that Caol Ila 12 nails perfectly. There is also the slightest hint of herbs and spices from nose to finish, adding a smooth complexity that piques the interest of the taste buds in just the right way. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just like every other smoked Islay malt. The Caol Ila 12 Year Old has a lot more to offer than just peat.

Flavor Spiral™

About The Flavor Spiral

Close
smoky
phenols
oily
herbs
cinnamon
white pepper
vanilla
sweet
spicy
What does Caol Ila 12 Year Old taste like?

The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Caol Ila 12 Year Old and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.

We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
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Categories of Scotch Whisky: Single malt, Blended malt (formerly called a Vatted malt), blended, single grain and blended grain Scotch.

Tasting Notes
Appearance / Color
Pale Straw.
 
Smell / Nose / Aroma
Signature smoke with hints of tobacco and herbs, boiled sweets.
 
Flavor / Taste / Palate 
Deep peated flavor with a richer sweetness and notes of vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg spices.
 
Finish
Lingering peat combined with more spicy cinnamon.

This drink is featured in

Peat It, Peat It!
Peat It, Peat It!
The Peat is on, the Peat is o-ooon!
Whisk(e)y
7.9/10

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Ratings & Reviews
Member Reviews and Ratings of Caol Ila 12 Year Old
Robert
Robert,
A nice peaty, smoky Islay Scotch. Certainly not for everyone. I was able to taste cinnamon, which was a nice touch.
 
Steve
Steve,
Nice scotch. Ok when I opened the bottle, flavor grew on me (improved) as I finished the bottle. Good stuff, definitely would buy again.
 
Joseph
Joseph,
At 1st I was not impressed, but as I drank the bottle it grew on me. I feel this is a more certificated version of the Talisker 10
 
Imran
Imran,
well balanced Peat with Sweet. Not crazy smoke but right amount. Sweet from bourbon barrels.
 
Lawrence
Lawrence,
Peat and smoke love. Phenols calm a bit with water. Oily cinnamon and spice. Nice finish
 
William
William,
A classic Islay scotch!
 
David
David,
One of the best I’ve try the flavor the smoke to it I love it
 
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
Smooth and a little smoky
 
Shaun
Shaun,
Love this smoky whiskey
 
Rene
Rene,
Unfortunately bit too strong for my taste.
 
Taylor
Taylor,
This is everything I love about whisky in a single dram!
 
Joe
Joe,
Like it
 
Halldor
Halldor,
After a few drops of water were added, it was a really nice tasting glass!
 
Sei-IS
Sei-IS,
Anything above 8 for me means pleating and smokey with a depth of flavour. This whisky needs a touch of water to bring out the flavours hidden in the peat. Also ignore the first taste which feels harsh and acidic. But by the second sip you suddenly notice the sweet sugars of the boiled sweets and the cinnamon on the finish that suddenly appears. A well round 12 year old that carries what can only de described as charactor... A definitive smokey charactor.
 
Marcus
Marcus,
Caol Ila is a very clean smokey Scotch. It is not as meaty as Laphroaig, which is also very good.
 
David
David,
Amazing speechless I’ve never try nothing like it
 
guest
guest,
Peaty scotch with a long finish.
 
Ramesh
Ramesh,
Very warm and peaty! Drink it neat or maybe with a drop of water. If you love your Lagavulin 16, you will love this too.
 
Kushal
Kushal,
Loved this Scotch!! Finished half a bottle in no time.
 
guest
guest,
A-
 
Susanna
Susanna,
I liked a lot this Cask strength. It needs a drop of water and the taste improves. I detected cinnamon, but it was not too strong. A good purchase indeed.
 
Chris
Chris,
Nice scotch but much less body than a Lagavulin 16 or Laphroaig 10. Felt very thin and finish was a little too quickly gone for my taste.
 
Justin
Justin,
One of my favorite scotchs of all time. Smokey and smooth.
 
Simone
Simone,
Absolutely powerful.
 
Daniel
Daniel,
Balanced peat and smake. I can see why it is used in a few on the Johnnie Walker blends.
 
guest
guest,
Love
 
Chad
Chad,
Our least favorite of the 3 peaty scotches in the tasting box. Perhaps some seaweed smell and flavor. More of a love-it-or-hate-it type scotch.
 
Michael
Michael,
Nose has the familiar Islay smoke with underlying vanilla and a bit of heather and salt tang. Flavours are very bright and sweet up front, giving a bit of a delay before smoke gradually eases onto the palate. A peppery spice joins the smoke into the finish, along with tobacco and mild herbal notes. This is possibly the most refined Islay I've tried to this point- with its welcoming sweetness and gentle smoke character this might be an ideal 'starter' Islay Scotch.
 
Todd
Todd,
mellow and smokey
 
Thomas
Thomas,
This is undoubtedly the marijuana of the Islay world. Its light peatiness acts as a seductress to its bolder, less well intentioned brothern. As an avid scotch drinker not big on peat, this delicios dram introduced me to a new world. Although I still lean on the Highlands and Speysides, I now proudly keep several Islays around. A must have for any scotch enthusiast!
 
Karolis
Karolis,
Very nice, will go hunt some independent bottlings with higher abv
 
alexey
alexey,
Peaty and salty. Smooth and long finish. Very nice
 
Nate
Nate,
High amount of smoke with a little reflux. Very similar to Lagavulin but the warming sensation stays in your chest longer.
 
Bradley
Bradley,
Delicious. Balanced smoke and peat with nice spice on the tongue
 
Troy
Troy,
Balances smoke and peat without being one note. A pleasant finish on a lighter dram than others in the region.
 
Patrick
Patrick,
Smoke & honey
 
Keith
Keith,
My favorite scotch so far. Like a camp fire on an ocean cliff in your mouth. Smoky and salty nose and smooth smoooooth finish.
 
guest
guest,
Great mix of smokiness and flavors
 
Eduardo
Eduardo,
Nice bright gold color. At nose smoky notes are first perceived but under that you can find some pepper and herbs. In the mouth a bit warm with medium long aftertaste
 
NICK
NICK,
Smoky, peaty aroma. Sweet and smoky with a touch of a bite. Pretty decent but whistlepig is still king. Mac $50/bottle.
 
guest
guest,
Really pitted. Maybe too pitted.
 
Matt
Matt,
It was good... I was a little worried... This is only my second peat I have tried... No pun intended... My first peat left a bad taste in my mouth... This one agrees with my tastes a whole lot better.
 
Michael
Michael,
Its good - but the 12 year old expression is bested by other Caol Ila offerings.
 
Myke
Myke,
A nice Smokey islay that has more herbal and peppery notes. It’s Nita lay less peaty than the islands other offerings.
 
Patrick
Patrick,
too much peat for me
 
Kevin
Kevin,
Smooth, nice aftertaste
 
Christine
Christine,
Grassy, sweet notes in the aroma, alongside the smoke and peat. Not all that smooth - the bite of it is a little overwhelming and distracts from the flavor. If comparing to its Islay brethren, this reminds me more of an Ardbeg 10 than a Lagavulin 16. It's light and refreshing, but not very complex.
 
Andrej
Andrej,
Good price performance! But overall the taste is not ballanced.
 
Jedediah
Jedediah,
Way to smoky for me. If you like a smoky drink though this one is for you.
 
Thaine
Thaine,
Excellent. Smoky, yet refreshing. A new favorite.
 
Danny
Danny,
Love the superficial notes of peat and smoke. Was surprised I picked up on the cinnamon. Delicious.
 
Steve
Steve,
Strong peat taste
 
Gordon
Gordon,
I found it a bit too harsh & extremely peaty. I had to add a drop of water to make it palatable. (I do not like mixing malt) I compareed it with an Arran peated, Machrie Moor. This I found was perfect.
 
Herbert
Herbert,
great aroma
 
guest
guest,
X
 
Harrison
Harrison,
Light, bit peaty but not too bad
 
Daniel
Daniel,
At first whif, floral notes but they discipate quick, releasing the smoke and peat. The same for the palate; first hits the floral with a medium strength, about 10 seconds later (rough guestimate) the smokey peat rolls in. I sense some caramel at the end which is a great combination to add with the smokey peat. At second thought, the reason why i gave this Caol such a high rating is because it is actually and nice change of combination to have the floral mixed with smokey peaty caramel. It helps you appreciate the peaty type scotch so much more.
 
Tristan
Tristan,
Pale gold. Fruity nose with delicate smoke notes and a touch of petrol. The notes on the palate (smoke, wood, herbs, and spice) are soft and not really accentuated. I feel it does better with a couple drops of water or on ice. Not as great as I was hoping it to be, but still enjoyable.
 
simon
simon,
What a lovely whiskey with plenty of character.
 
Mariano
Mariano,
Very smoothy. Probably much more than any other I've tasted so far. Liked a lot though, perhaps it's spirits are absolutely complex.
 
Jonathan
Jonathan,
Did not enjoy at all. Not much else to say.
 
guest
guest,
Good, just not a favourite. Bit bitey.
 
James
James,
A good dram sweetly smoked and peaty.
 
guest
guest,
Heavy smoke, peated, Peppery
 
guest
guest,
This is a more softer whisky untill the smokey touch comes. Then it changes to a more strong and smokey whisky. The aftertaste is quite short but slightly bitter. Nice whisky, very accessable.
 
Johann
Johann,
Really oily (too oily for my taste) and very smokey. It's probably the Sledgehammer of the #peaty Whiskys.
 
Polona
Polona,
Gentle straight peat - fresh hay, citrus and sweet. Slightly medicinal until well aired. Balanced and quite complex with long, nice aftertaste
 
Chris
Chris,
Just the right amount of smoke.
 
Andrew
Andrew,
Very peaty. Fairly sour with some spice. A lot of brine.
 
guest
guest,
One of my favourites...
 
David
David,
Definite notes of sweet and peaty. I prefer more cinnamon but I am enjoying it.
 
guest
guest,
Manque un peu de relief
 
guest
guest,
It has a smoky, spicy taste. Not too peaty. Almost like a Glen Livet
 
Alex
Alex,
The peat flavor is extremely strong, basically overwhelming the other flavors, ruining the experience.
 
Will
Will,
nice
 
Eric
Eric,
Caol Ila 12 Year Old is now one of my favorite Islays. Very smooth, great peat, and an amazing smokiness. To me, this is very subtle, yet complex enough to be interesting. Wonderful. I immediately purchased a bottle.
 
Michael
Michael,
An excellent smokey and peaty Islay. Definitely will buy again.
 
Mel
Mel,
Nose of vanilla and delicious peat. Light mouthfeel with medium finish. Very drinkable for beginners to Islay Scotch.
 
Stephen
Stephen,
I wasn't impressed. There wasn't anything that really stood out. The oiliness was there, as well as the peat, but nothing to really stand out from the other scotches.
 
Eric
Eric,
Caol Ila 12 Year Old is one of my favorite single malts. I prefer smoky/peaty/spicy whiskys and this one has an added bonus of being a little stronger than usual.
 
Craig
Craig,
Wonderful salty smell with a peat rush. One of my favourite Islay malts
 
Ben
Ben,
If you want smokey and peaty- this is top shelf!
 
guest
guest,
Spicy, and nice amount of smoke
 
guest
guest,
Delicious, so much value for money. I love all of Islay and the first glass of CI 12 isn't different. Not as smoky and peaty as I remembering Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10, it's in the middle of those and Lagavulin 16 and Bunna 12. I must say that Caol has more to it and to me it's a 'younger Lagavulin'. The balance makes this whisky superb and therefore for the relative cheap price a 9!
 
guest
guest,
Not quite as smoky as Laphroaig, but similar in flavor without being quite as harsh on the front end.
 
guest
guest,
Mm mm, so good!
 
Chris
Chris,
I thought the oil, peat and phenols were a bit overpowering in this whiskey.
 
David
David,
Joy
 
Giacomo
Giacomo,
PEATY
 
guest
guest,
Was my birthday present...love it!!
 
Dumitru
Dumitru,
Smoky, peaty and smooth one of my favorites.
 
guest
guest,
Отлично. Немного грубоват, но я прощаю. За дым, торф и остальные прелести....
 
Christopher
Christopher,
Character. Best enjoyed on a cold winter evening.
 
Phillip
Phillip,
Love this scotch. Nice middle of the road Islay. Great flavor and not overly peated.
 
guest
guest,
Strong
 
guest
guest,
I'm a huge fan of all things Caol Ila. The softest smoke on Islay. Beautiful whisky.
 
Pawan
Pawan,
Smoky Peaty light
 
Michael
Michael,
What a great dram! Very balanced and smooth.
 
guest
guest,
Соленая сладость, обжигает. Сухой вкус, дубовый, достаточно грубый
 
Maurizio
Maurizio,
My favorite standard. End of story. :)
 
Brendan
Brendan,
Smoke sea brine peat and fruit. Pair with a lobster.
 
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