A SOULLESS COFFEE – Score: 6/10
A return to the world of peat with this 16-year-old Caol Ila, presented by Alistair Walker in his Infrequent Flyers series.
This Caol Ila, aged in Moscatel casks, is bottled at 56.6%, with only 317 bottles making their way to us.
Disappointment sets in upon tasting this rather bland whisky, where the only discernible notes are smoke and coffee—both undeniably intense, yet lacking depth or nuance. Without any complexity or resting time, the whisky feels dull and monotonous.
The expected warmth of the Moscatel influence never truly reveals itself, as if swallowed by an overpowering bitterness. The richness one might hope for in such a cask finish is nowhere to be found, leaving an unbalanced and abrupt profile.
As the tasting progresses, the whisky remains stubbornly one-dimensional. No underlying sweetness, no layers of spice—just a relentless push of dark roast and acrid smoke. Even water does little to open it up, merely softening its edges without uncovering any hidden complexity.
A dram that might appeal to those seeking brute force over finesse, but for those in search of elegance and evolution in the glass, this Caol Ila is, regrettably, a missed opportunity.
Certainly not one of Alistair Walker’s finest selections, as we have come to expect better from him.
