Single Note: Caol Ila 12 Year Old Whisky
Key Facts About This Single Malt Scotch
Bottler: Single Note
Founder: Rick van Diepen
Distillery: Caol Ila
Age: 12 Years Old
Region: Islay, Scotland
Cask Type: A single ex-bourbon re-racked into first-fill ex-bourbon
Cask Ref: 303639
Alcohol by Volume: Cask strength at 53.3%
Distilled: 25/02/2008
Bottled: 15/04/2021
Limited Edition: 375 Bottles
Bottle Size: 500ml
Bottled: Natural colour and without chill filtration
Caol Ila 12 Year Old Tasting Notes
Official tasting notes
Nose: Prosciutto and miso, a citrus note from lime, followed by root beer.
Palate: The coastal brininess you may expect, combined with an interesting note of cardamom. An intriguing effervescence adds an unusual dimension to this Caol Ila.
Finish: A medium to long finish with lovely soft stone fruit notes.
Ed's review
Colour: Natural colour, very pale straw - like a chardonnay wine. Oily and viscous, with lots of legs running down the side of my glass.
Nose: Peat smoke, as soon as you open the bottle. But more than just smoke. Vanilla and oak from those two bourbon casks, with a good dose of wood sugars. A sweet note, honey drizzled pumpkin pie. Smoked ham, and Barratt's pink shrimp sweets.
Palate: Medium mouthfeel. There's a sweetness to this Caol Ila, again perhaps we're seeing the two bourbon casks play a role. A buttery, creamy note. Soft tropical fruit - papaya. A hint of the ocean off Islay's coast. The alcohol is well integrated at 53.3%, it's helping provide body and structure, without any burn.
Finish: Medium to long finish. Gentle peat smoke, honey, and tropical fruits. Just a touch of spice.
Read Ed's full review of Single Note Caol Ila 12 Year Old here.
About Single Note
Single malt scotch whisky and jazz music are Rick van Diepen's passions. Rick has been a whisky enthusiast since the 2005, when he did an exchange program in Edinburgh. He joined the University's whisky society and visited distilleries across Scotland. Caol Ila distillery was his favourite. So that's where he started with his first release, a 5 year old Caol Ila, and where he's gone back to for his second release.
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Meet the Founder
Rick van Diepen