Just a heads-up (and I’m posting this now, since I bought a few) for those in Seattle willing to make the trek over to West Seattle, the liquor store under the QFC at 42nd and Alaska is selling Caol Ila 15 Year Unpeated for $54 pre-tax, and about $68 out-the-door. I grabbed a few as that’s a $130 scotch (pre-tax). I had the checkout person verify the price and she said, “Yep. Good price!”
Has anyone had this. I love all other Caol Ila I’ve had, so I assume this will be solid.
I had a taste of unpeated Caol Ila back in 2012. I do not recall if it had an age statement. My very brief TN:
“Light Nose. Milky Way nougat on the palate. Wasn’t very impressed by this one.”
Hopefully you like yours more than I liked whatever it was I sampled.
Each year, Caol Ila distills a small run of completely unpeated whisky, and in 2014 Caol Ila released a 15 year old unpeated whisky as part of Diageo’s Special Edition Series. The whisky was distilled in 1998 and aged for 15 years in first-fill, ex-bourbon casks before being bottled at a robust 120.78 proof. The absence of peat gives the whisky a subtle aroma of toasted coconut, rum raisin ice cream, white chocolate and freshly baked bread, which leads to a malty palate filled with cereal, marshmallows and almonds. The finish is light and floral, with eucalyptus notes mingling with faint smoke and fruit cake.
Caol Ila 15 Year Old Unpeated Single Malt Scotch Whisky is limited to just 10,668 bottles, and received a perfect five stars from Difford’s Guide.