Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt

Islay, Scotland

Caol Ila 12 Year Old is Islay's best-kept secret and consistently rated among the world's best-value peated Scotch expressions. The distillery's maritime location overlooking the Sound of Islay (between Islay and Jura) creates a whisky that is smoke-forward but cleaner and more citrus-influenced than Laphroaig or Lagavulin. The 12 Year Old is the lightest and most approachable of Islay's heavily peated range — the ideal gateway to the style. At well under half the price of Lagavulin 16, it is the smart choice for cocktail programs and by-the-glass service.

Pairing intelligence

• fish course: Caol Ila 12's clean Islay smoke bridges the queenie scallops; the whisky butter links the Islay distillery to the Scottish coast
• starter: Caol Ila 12's lighter Islay smoke bridges the cold smoked trout; a refined Islay for a refined Scottish smoked fish preparation
• starter: Caol Ila 12's clean smoke bridges the smoked mackerel pâté; a lighter Islay for a coastal Scottish smoked fish classic
• starter: Caol Ila 12's light maritime smoke and citrus character is an ideal match for smoked mackerel pâté — the fish's oiliness and smoke complement without competing.
• cheese: Caol Ila 12's gentle peat bridges the young smoked Arran cheese; two island products sharing the Atlantic's smoky character
• casual: Caol Ila 12 in the chowder cream creates a lighter Islay smoke; a refined peat for a refined coastal chowder
• fish course: Caol Ila's clean smoke bridges the scallop's sweetness; a lighter Islay single malt for Scotland's finest shellfish