Caol Ila 8 Year, Fèis Ìle 2025
Refill PX and Oloroso
Finished in toasted Colombian oak
Produced 1,476 bottles
57.8% abv
Nose: Sweet. Smoke. Wine cask. Flinstone vitamins. Orange chocolate. Occasionally musty.
Palate: Oh yeah, the wine cask note. Transitions more to typical sherry notes. Warm, rich. A touch musty. Chocolate builds over time. It has an oddly sweet undertone – rich, dark fruits, but that artificial Flinstone vitamin vibe. The mouthfeel builds impressively with an interesting texture, as if it has those vitamins dissolved in it.
Finish: Rich caramel, chocolate. Maritime. Hot finish. Sweet, chalky candy on the transition.
I had a hard time picking notes on this. Well-integrated and interesting. The nose is a ponderer for sure. Interesting cask finish, I wonder if that’s where the vitamin notes come from. I would not have guessed this was a Caol Ila, other than a hint via the maritime quality. Quaffable. Big fan, but I am a Caol Ila stan.
Score: 4/5
Mental Image: A more refined childhood.