Caol Ila 12

I’m having one of those quiet evenings at home. Those that call for nothing more than a good book and a gentle dram.

Perfect for the Caol Ila 12.

The Caol Ila 12 is a nicely peated whisky from the Isle of Islay. A product of the Caol Ila distillery, it was introduced by that distillery in 2002.

The Caol Ila 12 is an entry-level whisky, compared to its big brothers, the Caol Ila 18 and 25. The distillery itself was established in 1846. Now owned by Diageo, it is reputed to be the largest whisky producer on Islay. It is also renowned for producing blends. In fact, much of its output is used in the production of blends.

The Caol Ila 12 (and the 18 and 25) are therefore standout single malts in a distillery well known for its work with blends.

The Caol Ila 12 does not pretend to be what it is not. There is nothing dramatic about it; it leans well into its character as a peated whisky from the Isle of Islay.

It has its own uniqueness too - the grassy and vanilla-like aroma, and the initial sweet taste, followed immediately by a bitter, almost medicinal taste. Plus a smokiness that hangs around - not heavy on the tongue, but nevertheless making its presence felt. It is also oily, with some pepperiness and more than a hint of lemon. And the finish is peaty, salty, and peppery. Overall, this whisky is a nice combination of smoky and sweet, with a hint of medicinal bitter.

The Caol Ila 12 is chill filtered, and matured in ex-bourbon casks. This is interesting, because I am not at all a big fan of chill filtered whiskies. Generally, I think that chill filtration takes away from the richness of the whisky. The point of chill filtering is to remove residue from the whisky, but I actually don’t mind the residue and the appearance of cloudiness in a dram of whisky. If anything, I think that these ‘imperfections’ add to the authenticity of the whisky. So, my preference would generally be for non-chill filtered whiskies. Even so, I have made an exception for the Caol Ila 12.

That said, if I were to introduce someone to Islay malts, I would not start with the Caol Ila 12. Indeed it’s a fine whisky, but the medicinal bitterness could be a bit distracting for a newcomer to peated malts. In such a case, I would recommend something a bit more ‘straightforward’, perhaps the Lagavulin 16 or the Ardbeg Uigeadail.

Overall, the Caol Ila 12 is a pleasant, uncomplicated whisky for quiet evenings at home. It is not fussy, and it does not claim too much greatness for itself. Nevertheless, it is true to its Islay roots, while also showing off its own distinct character.