Caol Ila 2011/2025 - 14 y.o. - 1st Fill Red Wine Barrique #900098 (Best Dram)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 58.7% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A first-fill red wine barrique shapes this fourteen-year-old single-cask release from Caol Ila. The whisky was distilled on 10 May 2011 and bottled from cask 900098 under the Best Dram brand on 4 August 2025. The release comprises 279 bottles at a cask strength of 58.7% alcohol. The whisky is not chill-filtered and contains no colouring.

Maritime, ashy peat smoke combines with dark berries, red grapes and cherry. Subtle tannins, dry wine notes and salt provide structure; fruit, smoke, delicate spice and mineral impressions remain present together in the finish. Creamy notes, honeyed sweetness and red berries complement this contrast between Islay smoke and the red wine cask.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, clean maritime smoke meets dark berries and red grapes. Light spice, a trace of ash and a restrained dry wine note complete the aroma.
• Palate: The whisky feels powerful and structured on the palate. Phenolic smoke unfolds first, followed by red fruit, dark cherry and subtle tannins. Dryness and spice from the red wine cask combine with a salty character.
• Finish: The long, intense finish remains smoky and slightly dry. Fruit, delicate spice and mineral hints linger.

Distillery/Bottler:

Caol Ila was founded in 1846 and lies in northeastern Islay, opposite the island of Jura. The distillery was rebuilt in the early 1970s; its six stills were made to match their predecessors in order to preserve the familiar style. This combines a light body with salt, sweet smoke and a subtle olive oil note. The malt comes from Port Ellen, while the spring water comes from the limestone-rich area near Loch nam Ban.

Best Dram is the work of independent bottler Michel Reick, known as Whisky-Druide. Established in 2014, the range focuses on individual casks that Reick personally selects on site in Scotland. The whiskies are bottled at cask strength, without chill filtration or colouring. Rather than pursuing a uniform house flavour, the range therefore puts the individual distillery and selected cask at its centre.

Facts: