• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

Caol-Ila Cigar Malt

BlindedByScience

Proud Father of a Kearney, NE LEO
Staff member
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
9,932
A few months ago, I purchased one of the small (200 mL) bottles of the Caol-Ila "Cigar Malt" scotch. Today was a chilly, rainy day, and I decided it would be a splendid day for a review of this interesting dram.

gallery_1565_604_40106.jpg


I'd only recently opened this bottle, and discovered that the screw on cap had cracked. Hidden by the seals and labels, I didn't know until I peeled them back that trouble could lurk within the little bottle:

gallery_1565_604_25794.jpg


The good news is that the bottle had maintained its seal, and the contents were in fine shape. A closeup of the label:

gallery_1565_604_24933.jpg


As the label says, this was a small 200 mL bottle, labeled at 50% (100 proof).

I enjoyed three glasses of this over a period of a couple weeks. The first go round left me pessimistic, the second was much better, and tonights sample led me to the conclusions I'll relate here. The nose on this tells you that this is a heavy, smoky dram. The label says the nose is "Earthy, oily, with smoke and pepper" and they aren't kidding. To my nose, the smoke and intensity of the flavor profile was very apparent. For tonight's tasting, I pared it with a Don Pepin Blue Label Lancero from last year. This is a stout beverage, flavor wise, and I believe it can hold its own with most any smoke out there. The flavors were indeed very heavy with smoke, and the oily taste hinted at is very apparent. The taste listed on the label is "Round and spicy with peaty smoke". Can't argue. To my taste, the smoke and peat were the overwhelming flavors present. There is also an oily taste that I can't put my finger on, but is not umpleasant. I didn't get any of the spice mentioned but that's my observations and others may find tastes I didn't uncover. The finish, or aftertaste was actually very pleasant. The smoke and peat really hang on and make this a great dram to pair with a full bodied smoke.

In the end, I would have to say I enjoyed it though it took me a couple of times with it to appreciate it for what it is. It is a complete 180 from the bourbon that I normally enjoy so it took me a time or two to really enjoy what it brings to the palate. But, in the end, I will have to say it's an intense, complex, very tasty scotch and has me interested in trying more form Caol-Ila.

Best Regards - B.B.S.
 
I think it matches fairly well to my initial review from July last year. I've been looking but they haven't put out any more so this is truly a one time deal. Glad you finally opened it and liked it.
 
Fellows,
That sounded wonderful! I've yet to pair a single malt with a fine cigar, as cigar smoking is a newly found pleasure. A question though, I have noticed on several posts these small 200ml bottles, are these something that most liquor stores sell or is there a different avenue for obtaining them? Those seem like the perfect size for trying new malts and for gifting to others as well.
 
Besides this and the 3 Chieftain's Cigar Malt samplers I reviewed (which were even smaller at 100ml) I don't remember doing any other smaller bottles. In all those they came from the UK and aren't available in the US.
 
I know it's terrible to say, however I've got a few 200ml bottles off Ebay.
 
Nice review, Tom!

I got a bottle from Ray for a co-worker who has everything! He was wildly impressed!

Thanks again Ray!

Best,

Rob
 
I just discovered this Scotch last Monday and liked it so much that I drank several shots (w/ 3 ice cubes of course) with Mowee, Skirts and Friends @ The C&B - then Terry and I went next door to the Liquor Store & I bought a bottle of the 12 year. Nothing like drinking & shopping for stogies &/or Booze! Did some damage with it on my B-Day Herf with Dean (Tasman) & THAT folks is why he "doesn't remember" most of Friday night! I think Dustin (dk-ace) is hooked on it because he remarked how it was exactly what he was looking for. The best way to describe my experience with this Scotch is that it is a softer version of Lagavulin, w/ a bit more Charcoal on the finish, & unfortunately no less alcohol. ;)
 
Who brought it in to the country for you or are you speaking of Caol Ila in general? The Cigar Malt was never sold in the US.

I just discovered this Scotch last Monday and liked it so much that I drank several shots (w/ 3 ice cubes of course) with Mowee, Skirts and Friends @ The C&B
 
Top