AVB
Jesus of Cool, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
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- Nov 14, 2003
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Caol Ila 10yo Single Cask Cigar Malt. Old Malt Cask Bottling, 200ml bottle, no other packaging. 100 proof, $33 imported, not available in the US.
These bottles say right on the label "A single cask bottling for a fine cigar's pleasure" and "Rather Smoky" which I find interesting.
A you can see in the pic, these are just little bottles but belay a big taste. Drawn from a single bourbon hogshead cask (63 gallons instead of the usual 53 gallon barrel) and cut to 100 proof from about 120 or so. Since this bottle arrived today I couldn't wait to try it and I hope that the others who ordered one will post their comments too once they make it into their hands.
Being a small bottle this has a twist off cap with a plastic sealer on the inside, a system that actually works better then the old cork in the cap but one that may turn off some purists.
Nosing is exactly what is printed on the label, earthy, oily and smoky. I also notice some vanilla and grasses. No alcohol is present at all and you can almost chew the thick aroma in the glass. Tasting neat, the true Islay flavors jump out. Flowery, Tary (like Tar), spice and peat smoke are all well balanced with a tiny bit of alcohol. The finish is lingering smoke that just rolls of the tongue for a very long time.
This is a little sweeter then other Caol Ilas I've had but I didn't notice it until I compared it to the two other ones I have. It isn't something that is noticed by itself though. It is also unlike any other cigar malt I've had since almost all of them are Speyside based. So how does it go with a cigar you're asking? To test I pulled out a 4 year old Opus Petit Lancero from a trade with BigHD100 a few years ago. This dram calls for a stick with some backbone and while it isn't the strongest cigar I have it'll do
While not an Opus whore by any means I have to say that this was a great combination. The spice and smoke of the dram matched the spice and smoke of the stick. The smokiness of the peat complimented and enhanced the Opus unlike any other drink I've tried. I went back to some Caol Ila 18 to compare and the Cigar Malt was a noticeably better match.
If you like the big Islay taste this is well worth it even if you don't smoke a cigar with it. I like it....A LOT. :thumbs: I only wish it came in a full size bottle.
These bottles say right on the label "A single cask bottling for a fine cigar's pleasure" and "Rather Smoky" which I find interesting.
A you can see in the pic, these are just little bottles but belay a big taste. Drawn from a single bourbon hogshead cask (63 gallons instead of the usual 53 gallon barrel) and cut to 100 proof from about 120 or so. Since this bottle arrived today I couldn't wait to try it and I hope that the others who ordered one will post their comments too once they make it into their hands.
Being a small bottle this has a twist off cap with a plastic sealer on the inside, a system that actually works better then the old cork in the cap but one that may turn off some purists.
Nosing is exactly what is printed on the label, earthy, oily and smoky. I also notice some vanilla and grasses. No alcohol is present at all and you can almost chew the thick aroma in the glass. Tasting neat, the true Islay flavors jump out. Flowery, Tary (like Tar), spice and peat smoke are all well balanced with a tiny bit of alcohol. The finish is lingering smoke that just rolls of the tongue for a very long time.
This is a little sweeter then other Caol Ilas I've had but I didn't notice it until I compared it to the two other ones I have. It isn't something that is noticed by itself though. It is also unlike any other cigar malt I've had since almost all of them are Speyside based. So how does it go with a cigar you're asking? To test I pulled out a 4 year old Opus Petit Lancero from a trade with BigHD100 a few years ago. This dram calls for a stick with some backbone and while it isn't the strongest cigar I have it'll do
While not an Opus whore by any means I have to say that this was a great combination. The spice and smoke of the dram matched the spice and smoke of the stick. The smokiness of the peat complimented and enhanced the Opus unlike any other drink I've tried. I went back to some Caol Ila 18 to compare and the Cigar Malt was a noticeably better match.
If you like the big Islay taste this is well worth it even if you don't smoke a cigar with it. I like it....A LOT. :thumbs: I only wish it came in a full size bottle.
