Caol Ila 17 Year Old Scotch Review

By Alex Southgate

Rating: A-

It’s nice to try something new. It’s even nicer to be given the opportunity to be one of the first to try something and this is why I’m currently feeling both honored and excited in equal measure: Halcyon Spirits newest expression is a 17 year old Caol Ila. This whiskey won’t be available for purchase until the beginning of October, so it’s great to get a sneak peek at what’s coming.

This is the fifth release from brothers Daniel and Craig Milne over at Halcyon Spirits. Made back in 2007 and bottled at a cask strength of 56%, the production run on this single cask release has been limited to 273 bottles. This being said, and as with many of Halcyon’s releases, this might be the perfect addition for the collectors amongst you.

Caol Ila was erected in 1846, and is one of the biggest of the famed Islay distilleries. It’s also known as one of the more lightly peated of the Islay whiskies, as well as a major ingredient for Johnnie Walker and Black Bottle.

The Scotch
On the pour, the Caol Ila is a rich honey in hue and beautifully clear to the eye. This is an easy pouring malt, leaving very faint legs as it moves around the glass. I love it when I get the scent of a whiskey on the pour and this is very much the case here. There is something very inviting about getting a delicious aroma even before raising the class to your nose.

Before I even lifted the glass I was getting a scent of soft spices. Nutmeg and cinnamon combined with the most delightful baked notes wafted straight from the glass. As I raised it to my nose these notes deepened and were backed by the dry undertone of leather. These aromas lift to reveal juicy fruit. Winter berries are complemented by a heavy hit of spice. The finish is milk chocolate with just a splash of cream.

This is a really punchy whisky and your taste buds start dancing the moment it hits your tongue. The initial flavor is spicy. The notes of cinnamon I mentioned earlier are present and paired with coarse black pepper. These notes carry and are met with baked wheat, leading to a finish that is warm, buttery and savory.

I said that the last expression from Halcyon was one for fans of a savory tipple but this is even more so. This is the perfect dram for a cold winter evening. I often get a mental image when I’m drinking a scotch for the first time. This time it’s one of entering your house when it’s freezing outside and being met by the scents of freshly baked cakes. This whisky embodies the feeling of coming home perfectly and I’d love to enjoy a bottle on a chilly October evening.

I’d be very happy to add the Caol Ila to my collection and I have to take my hat off to Halcyon for another excellent release. I’m not usually a fan of very punchy whisky but I’m more than happy to overlook that in this case. This might be a little too early to say but this might well be a candidate for one of my favorites of 2024.

The Price
The Caol Ila 17YO from Halcyon Spirits is due to retail at £150 for those of us here in the UK.