An affordable 25 Year old Scotch from Islay is not something we often see. This beauty retails for around $250 in UK but unfortunately a little more in the US. An amazing distillery that delivers good value!!!!
Just having some of a sample of this too. Maybe a different bottling ? The peat on the nose was very light for this with old rich soft fruits. The palate is warm milk chocolate, peanut butter, malty, sea salt with mild soft integrated peat on the back. Cheers guy's
This beauty is 140€ at my place ! ...perfect value for the price. Always on my shelf and it got a solid "89" from myself. Thank you for sharing. Stay healthy, Moses
Another good one. All I could think when I had this was..I wish it was a cask strength independent bottle release. Had in Sweden when I was visiting there. I feel like that melon and tropical note would have been more pronounced. .and of course the mouthfeel. Cheers 🍻
Yeah retailers in the USA even before the US tariff want to jack up the prices on Scotch that is older then 18. They also tend to jack up the price on stuff from Islay. I guess the best retailer that stays true to what they paid for it is Costco but not many 18+ stuff at costco. My Total Wine has been trying to sell Lagavulin 11 offerman edition for 145, for the longest time! No one is buying it. Great review guys!
I have had some Indy 12 year old Caol Ila that was excellent so I know what you are referring to. Of course the best Caol Ila ever bottled is 15 Years old.
Great review as always! I’ve got an unopened bottle of this sitting in my cabinet that I’ll probably open in the new year. Quick question, if you had a choice between Glenfiddich 30 or Glenfarclas 30 which would be your favourite? Cheers.
Yeah, I'm not surprised there's a bit of disappointment from the 18 to 25. The increase in price due to the age statement by no means guarantees an improvement in the drink. All of the great Caol Ila's I've had have all been from independent bottlers and have been much younger. A Hunter Laing 18 yr (50%) blew the official 18 yr away. A few years ago (only four or five) you could pick up a bottle like that for £100. Ultimately I don't think Caol Ila 25 is marketed at whisky connoisseurs. It's more for an international clientele who want to push the boat out and hence that 43%. I come across this kind of thing in Spain. Macallan 18 falls in to a similar category. Many serious whisky folk forget about the enormous market aimed at the occasional whisky drinker.
For sure, indy caol ila is usually spectacular. Perhaps my fav distillery for indy bottles. I've tried many ranging from young to old and almost always a steal value wise.
An old Laphroaig 30 at auction. Id you want to buy from a regular store or website then try the new Laphroaig 30 Book 2. Its heavily sherried and around $1k.
@@maltreviews ...There's a lot going on on the palate. With a full body, delicious and strong, he serves salty shortbread biscuits with a strong malt taste. Almost like dark beer. There are also almond cream biscuits with ripe orange and young apple......and so on!
I am not sure why this is not one of the top whisky channels..they drink the best stuff, top shelf and the reviews are amazing
Thank you John for the recognition, we most def appreciate you saying that. Cheers!!!
Just having some of a sample of this too. Maybe a different bottling ? The peat on the nose was very light for this with old rich soft fruits. The palate is warm milk chocolate, peanut butter, malty, sea salt with mild soft integrated peat on the back. Cheers guy's
Very nice! Cheers!
Great review. Have been watching you guys for years now and def deserve more subscribers.
Thank you and appreciate that. Hoping the channel can grow a bit with more reviews being released. Cheers!
This beauty is 140€ at my place ! ...perfect value for the price.
Always on my shelf and it got a solid "89" from myself.
Thank you for sharing. Stay healthy, Moses
Agreed. Picked it up on sale for 100 Euro at Drankdozijn. 140 currently :drankdozijn.de/artikel/fles-caol-ila-25-years-single-malt-70cl
@@SWOP_B ...thanks for support!
Amazing price!!!
Another good one. All I could think when I had this was..I wish it was a cask strength independent bottle release. Had in Sweden when I was visiting there. I feel like that melon and tropical note would have been more pronounced. .and of course the mouthfeel. Cheers 🍻
I hear ya, it would def be a lot more expensive at cask strength but worth it. Cheers!!
It must be XMAS with all these malt reviews. Thank you guys. Loving it!
Thank you EZ!!!!
Yeah retailers in the USA even before the US tariff want to jack up the prices on Scotch that is older then 18. They also tend to jack up the price on stuff from Islay. I guess the best retailer that stays true to what they paid for it is Costco but not many 18+ stuff at costco. My Total Wine has been trying to sell Lagavulin 11 offerman edition for 145, for the longest time! No one is buying it. Great review guys!
Yah, it starts to get silly when retailers take advantage even with regular releases. Thank you!!
I would say a fairly accurate assesment. It's definately a value dram.
That one sounds great - thanks for sharing guys :)
Good review. I bought 2 bottles on SWA for 110 pounds (+comm+shipping ) each couple of years ago. I see those going for 30-40 pounds more now.
Yah very solid value as its not a collectors item.
I know this review is a year old, but have you guys had the 1983 2014 release 30 yr old?
Ah yes the gentle smoke of Caol Ila. 43% is the only knock. Wish it was 48%.
100%
Love Caol Ila but I find younger is often better than older.
I have had some Indy 12 year old Caol Ila that was excellent so I know what you are referring to. Of course the best Caol Ila ever bottled is 15 Years old.
For the price it’s a great value if you like the older Islay style (which I do!).. good stuff.
100%
Great review as always! I’ve got an unopened bottle of this sitting in my cabinet that I’ll probably open in the new year. Quick question, if you had a choice between Glenfiddich 30 or Glenfarclas 30 which would be your favourite? Cheers.
Thank you! For recent bottlings I would pick Glenfiddich 30. From old bottlings 1990's-early 2000's then Glenfarclas. Cheers!
Great review!
Thank you!
Yeah, I'm not surprised there's a bit of disappointment from the 18 to 25. The increase in price due to the age statement by no means guarantees an improvement in the drink. All of the great Caol Ila's I've had have all been from independent bottlers and have been much younger. A Hunter Laing 18 yr (50%) blew the official 18 yr away. A few years ago (only four or five) you could pick up a bottle like that for £100. Ultimately I don't think Caol Ila 25 is marketed at whisky connoisseurs. It's more for an international clientele who want to push the boat out and hence that 43%. I come across this kind of thing in Spain. Macallan 18 falls in to a similar category. Many serious whisky folk forget about the enormous market aimed at the occasional whisky drinker.
For sure, indy caol ila is usually spectacular. Perhaps my fav distillery for indy bottles. I've tried many ranging from young to old and almost always a steal value wise.
Nice stuff but,for me,Ardmore 20yo (vintage 1996) is better.And cheaper (here in EU).Great job as allways,guys👏👏👏🥃
Thank you Goran!!
If I have a $2000 budget, I like Islays and I like sherried whiskeys, any recommendations?
An old Laphroaig 30 at auction. Id you want to buy from a regular store or website then try the new Laphroaig 30 Book 2. Its heavily sherried and around $1k.
@@maltreviews Appreciate it guys. I'll take a look around
Great review. Thoughts on unpeated special edition Caol Ila if you’ve had? Would be nice to compare.
...agreed, for sure also a great bottle!!
Thank you! Review of unpeated coming soon!
@@maltreviews ...There's a lot going on on the palate. With a full body, delicious and strong, he serves salty shortbread biscuits with a strong malt taste. Almost like dark beer. There are also almond cream biscuits with ripe orange and young apple......and so on!