spirits whiskey
43.0
Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt
Islay, Scotland
About this product
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.
The deductive profile Library
colourPale gold
noseFresh and smoky — citrus, sea breeze, light peat, vanilla
palateMedium-full, approachable — citrus, smoke, light brine, vanilla
finishMedium-long, smoke and citrus fade cleanly
Service
notesExcellent in the Penicillin cocktail (Caol Ila, lemon, honey ginger syrup, Islay float). Good for guests approaching peated whisky for the first time.
glasswareGlencairn neat; Highball for cocktails
serve tempNeat, on the rocks, or in a Penicillin cocktail
Open The Library to see this section in full.
Open The LibraryTasting profile
Fresh and smoky — citrus, sea breeze, light peat, vanilla
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Pairings
complement
casual
Caol Ila 12's clean Islay smoke bridges the queenie scallops; the whisky butter links the Islay distillery to the Scottish coast
classic
fish_course
complement
seafood
Caol Ila 12's lighter Islay smoke bridges the cold smoked trout; a refined Islay for a refined Scottish smoked fish preparation
classic
starter
complement
casual
Caol Ila 12's clean smoke bridges the smoked mackerel pâté; a lighter Islay for a coastal Scottish smoked fish classic
classic
starter
complement
seafood_general
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.
established
starter
complement
cheese
Caol Ila 12's gentle peat bridges the young smoked Arran cheese; two island products sharing the Atlantic's smoky character
established
cheese
complement
casual
Caol Ila 12 in the chowder cream creates a lighter Islay smoke; a refined peat for a refined coastal chowder
established
casual
complement
casual
Caol Ila's clean smoke bridges the scallop's sweetness; a lighter Islay single malt for Scotland's finest shellfish
established
fish_course