Caol Ila 2010/2019 Càrn Mòr Legacy Liquor Store
61.2% ABV - Islay, Scotland
Nose: Big wafts of diesel and vegetal peat, with white wine and fruits covered up, and some heat or astringency (especially without water).
Taste: Minerality (wet pavement), ash, and dense - but light - smoke dominates. This slowly gives way to pears, fruits, and green pepper - blending nicely into the finish.
Finish: Leaving with charred wood, more ash, beeswax, vanilla, and light tropical fruits (becoming more prevalent with water).
This Caol Ila is a single cask bottled by Càrn Mòr for their Strictly Limited series, and exclusive to Legacy Liquor Store in Vancouver, BC. ...Those facts right there deemed this bottle fit for selection when I was browsing for "something interesting" this week. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the quality of spirit that Càrn Mòr releases (see my Laphroaig 2010 Càrn Mòr Williamson 7-Year review) and it was the first time that I’ve seen this local shop offer up a special bottling. Okay, not fully true… they had an Octave exclusive, but the price was well outside of my budget! And I digress...
I need to insert a huge preface that this review is coming out when the bottle is only 4-5 drams old, and should anything change significantly then I will add a comment to this review.
When I first nosed this Caol Ila, I received a wave of vegetal peat and diesel aromas - quite similar to the Big Peat line from Douglas Laing. But even before slightly diluting with water, I could detect some fruits of white wine hidden underneath. The arrival greets you with a dense cloud of smoke - light smoke, as I’ve stated above - paired with a mineral or wet pavement character. As I’m smacking my lips, I have to fight a bit to find those fruits (I know they are underneath just waiting!), but these were a lot easier to tease out with the addition of some water.
Water!? Yes, remember that we have a cask strength bottling that bats just above 60% ABV… Without water, I can’t help but notice the bit of heat or astringency on the nose, however, on the palate you could easily be fooled it’s lower proof. I’d highly recommend playing with water levels. It wasn’t until I thought, "yikes I have added just a bit too much" did I realize that I hit the sweet spot, as per my tastebuds.
Let’s move on to the next great topic: value. I only had to spend $100 CAD to bring home this Caol Ila, but that is because generous friends of mine had gifted me a $50 credit at this shop after they visited in the summer. Then does the $150 price tag after taxes make this a good buy? I think for that price, and, of course, having tasted it now a few times, you should either (A) try before you buy - potentially a difficult task with only 123 bottles in the wild, (B) be a notable fan of Caol Ila - I just haven’t had that many expressions, or (C) be willing to take a chance. I can’t see myself springing for a “backup bottle” unless the profile changes significantly with time and additional sittings.
Oh, and this will entertain me for a while: I can’t think of more than a few bottles that I’ve purchased and opened on the same day! Let alone posted a review so quickly… I read so many other whisky reviews, and I thought it’d be nice to get some content out there so soon after its release, as often that’s what I’m Googling when I see a shiny, new bottle! Sláinte.
Details: Matured in a Hogshead Cask. Distilled 2010. Bottled 2019. Limited to 123 Bottles. Specially selected by Legacy Liquor Store.
Tasted 20 September 2019. (Posted 21 September 2019.)
