Caol Ila is one of Islay's best loved distilleries and this 12 year old is their entry level bottling.

This expression is light and fresh with that distinctive Caol Ila smoke and notes of zesty limoncello. A perfect introduction to the joys of Islay malt and the mercurial qualities of peat smoked whisky.

It's the age-old question of house style versus the cask.

Which will shine through when six small-batch and single-cask, cask-strength, independently bottled releases from the same distillery are lined up shoulder to shoulder? And what about that mystery? Is that a Caol Ila or is something sneaky going on here?

There's only one way to find out!

Here's the lineup...

• Caol Ila 'BBR' 2010 / 2023 #318377 56.4% Hogshead/Oloroso Finish 
• Caol Ila 'Gordon & MacPhail' 2006 58.3% 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon
• Caol Ila 'Murray McDavid' 12 years old 52.3% Stout Beer Finish
• Caol Ila 'Single Malts of Scotland' 2011 / 61.2% Butt
• Caol Ila 'Adelphi' DramFest 2025 2014 / 10 years old 54% Ex-sherry hogshead 
• Caol Ila 'Signatory' 2009 / 14 years old 57.1% Bourbon Hogshead
• Mystery whisky???

Cancellations must be made no later than 48hrs in advance.

This tasting will be a seated tasting in the Regional Wines tasting room.

If sold out - please email John at online@regionalwines.co.nz to be placed on the waitlist.

It's the age-old question of house style versus the cask.

Which will shine through when six small-batch and single-cask, cask-strength, independently bottled releases from the same distillery are lined up shoulder to shoulder? And what about that mystery? Is that a Caol Ila or is something sneaky going on here?

There's only one way to find out!

Here's the lineup...

• Caol Ila 'BBR' 2010 / 2023 #318377 56.4% Hogshead/Oloroso Finish 
• Caol Ila 'Gordon & MacPhail' 2006 58.3% 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon
• Caol Ila 'Murray McDavid' 12 years old 52.3% Stout Beer Finish
• Caol Ila 'Single Malts of Scotland' 2011 / 61.2% Butt
• Caol Ila 'Adelphi' DramFest 2025 2014 / 10 years old 54% Ex-sherry hogshead 
• Caol Ila 'Signatory' 2009 / 14 years old 57.1% Bourbon Hogshead
• Mystery whisky???

Cancellations must be made no later than 48hrs in advance.

This tasting will be a seated tasting in the Regional Wines tasting room.

If sold out - please email John at online@regionalwines.co.nz to be placed on the waitlist.

Moch is Gaelic for dawn, and this release from Caol Ila is an altogether lighter prospect than the distillery's excellent 12 year old standard expression.

Nose: Lemon sherbet and apple crumble topping with custard. Dry grass and not a hint of smoke.

Palate: Sweet lemon meringue pie and soft, very soft mouthfeel. The peat hits a third of the way in but it's restrained; soothing wood smoke rather than burning tyres, and it retains a sweetness throughout.

Finish: Soft drying smoke.

The yearly Diageo Special Releases always pack some surprises and it's fair to say an unpeated Caol Ila is probably one of them. This single malt Scotch promotes the distillery's lesser-known side as a sherry-forward Caol Ila that swaps smoke for elegant sweetness. It was matured for 15 years in refill and rejuvenated American-oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European oak butts before it was bottled at a cask strength 59.1% ABV.

Nose: Opens with marmalade-laden buttery toast, milk chocolate and fresh orange notes, before red cherry, strawberry and raisin comes through. Lashes of vanilla and a suggestion of spearmint, too.

Palate: Leads with more of that creamy chocolate, fruity yoghurt and honey. Peach is in there too, and in with all the oiliness is a pine-like quality.

Finish: Yoghurt-covered almonds with some liquorice and, yes, some distant smoke.

Overall: It's an viscous drop that packs a creamy-fruity punch.

Vintage - 2015
Bottled - 19.09.2024
Indicated Age - 09 years old
Barrel type - 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt & Bourbon HHD
Alcohol - 57.1 % Vol.

SAMAROLI ISLAY
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
BOTTLED IN SCOTLAND IN 2023

Our eye - or better our nose - dwells on this youngster, allowing us to bottle yet another iteration of our philosophy of Islay, the queen of Scotland. We stand before a young, arrogant and daring Caol Ila. Despite its youth, the mastery conferred by wood presents us with a slightly peaty note. In addition, we sense shy hints of yeast, butter and smoked meats reminiscent of our hearth after last night?s fire is spent. And now almond, hazelnut and candied fruit. 

The saline plane surprises us in terms of equilibrium and harmony. Suggestions of herring and anchovy, a classic marina scent with flashes of the mineral. Those caper bushes descending towards the Sicilian sea are now evoked. To the right the Pillars of Heracles. To the left, the mysterious and intriguing East. There is a narrow border between the ocean and the sky which is lighter and therefore easy to identify. Some may say that Brittany is where we can best learn to distinguish this.

A.W.B. 

COMPOSITION: 3 casks of Caol Ila 2013 - Hogshead - Refill Bourbon
BOTTLES PRODUCED: 1104
ABV: 45%

A wonderfully balanced expression from the core Caol Ila range, this 18 year old is malty and thick with notes of Caol Ila smoke and phenols, a lovely Islay single malt without extreme levels of peat.

Nose: Aromatic, darkness. Herbal, vegetal. Grassy, creamy malt.

Palate: Big, refined sweetness, leafy. Well integrated oak, smoke, oily, peat. Barley.

Finish: Long, herbal notes, gentle smoke, soft peat. Oily wood.

Sweet vanilla and dry cured meat aromas.  Peat smoke undertones are complemented by banana and apricot.

Ripe Banana, kiwi and vibrant hints of fresh citrus, leading to a long, sweet and smoky finish.