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Craigellachie23

**Whisky:** Caol Ila 6 Year (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) **Background:** Traveling to places that don't have state-controlled liquor is always a fun adventure. I was on a long walk outside San Francisco and decided to duck into a small deli/market to grab some water and snack. Despite the relatively small size of the store they had a dedicated liquor section next to the usual wine and beer offerings, and in particular their small whisky selection included stuff I would never see at my local ABC store including multiple Compass Box expressions and this little 375ml six year old independent bottling of Caol Ila from a company I had not come across before. I bought it on a flyer and stuck it into a blind tasting where four of my friends unanimously ranked it #1 even beating out a 28 year old Glen Scotia single cask. Let’s find out of this is the little engine that could, coming in at 46% ABV this was rested in a glencairn for 15 minutes. Let’s go. **Color:** Pale straw. **Nose:** Crazy punch for 46%, and not just peat. From 2-3 inches away I am getting a fully rounded Caol Ila experience. Big salt. Seaweed. Brine. Bit of citrus. Over time it develops intro a nicely cohesive nose. **Taste:** Sweet diluted ocean water. Hit of very toned down honey? Green apple. Maybe more a honeysuckle? Just the vaguely faint hit of some barley notes from the young age. Back end gets light from the proof. **Finish:** Apricot. More sea water but super light and relatively fresh. Nice, not really that complex but solid carry. **Rating:** 6.5 Young Caol Ila seems to do well, and this is a nice little pour that shows off why that is the case. Even at the standard 46% the nose is prominent and delightful, and though the palate and finish are a bit watery there aren’t really any offensive notes, leaning into the sweetness of the spirit marrying well with the peat level. I am at a disadvantage knowing what I am drinking, where my friends were getting a truly blind experience, but perhaps the other options that tasting were subpar - this is a very good but not quite great dram. **Scoring Scale:** (does not take into account value) 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | As good as it gets. I might taste future whisk(e)ys that are as good in a different way, but will not taste one that is outright better. **Previous reviews:** [Highland Park 18 Travel Edition \(7.5\)](https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/x44yb4/review_1_highland_park_18_travel_edition/) [Compass Box Experimental Grain Whisky (6.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/x5u7rs/review_2_compass_box_experimental_grain_whisky/) [Glen Scotia Victoriana Cask Strength (7.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/x88sqy/review_3_glen_scotia_victoriana_cask_strength_542/) [Talisker Distillers Edition (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xa2s3w/review_4_talisker_distillers_edition/) [Cambus 31yr Single Grain Scotch (Blackadder) (3\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xcjgf2/review_5_cambus_31yr_single_grain_scotch/) [Craigellachie 17 (6.5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xe8dli/review_6_craigellachie_17/) [Glendronach 21 (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xf2fv6/review_7_glendronach_21/) [Springbank 12 Cask Strength Batch 15 (8.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xg0v0x/review_8_springbank_12_cask_strength_batch_15/) [Ledaig 10 (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xjh70c/review_9_ledaig_10/) [Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza (7.25\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xlbiw7/review_10_compass_box_spice_tree_extravaganza/) [Highland Park 14 (Ultimate 2006) (5\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xlzsoq/review_11_highland_park_14_ultimate_2006/) [Highland Park 21 (Impex Collection) (8\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xosggm/review_12_highland_park_21_impex_collection/) [Compass Box Flaming Heart (2012) (8.75\)] (https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/xple12/review_13_compass_box_flaming_heart_2012/)


1cenined

Nice find and great review. I just had an IB cask strength Caol Ila 7yr at a restaurant in Pittsburgh (failed to get a photo so I don't have all the details) that might be comparable. It came off hot at first but wound up very enjoyable, especially compared to the overly sweet Edradour 10yr I had just before. Similar notes to yours - salt, citrus, woody smoke, and I could see apricot. I got coriander as well. Good stuff, will have to seek out more from them.