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- Jan 31, 2005
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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.
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:
The good news is that the bottle had maintained its seal, and the contents were in fine shape. A closeup of the label:
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'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:
The good news is that the bottle had maintained its seal, and the contents were in fine shape. A closeup of the label:
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.