Caol Ila Feis Ile 2025 under Colombian oak influence
Feis Ile bottlings used to be the Holy Grail for whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike. The former did suffer the influence of the latter, because we have steadily seen prices go up. I am sure that there is something to say for distilleries wanting to cash in themselves on the products they created. In recent years, we have seen that risen prices sadly did not normalize. That means that stock does not sell out anymore, if at all, and that bottles that used to be extremely exclusive (you had to travel to Islay to get them) are now sold at your local retailers. Well, not literally perhaps, but in my country I noticed that at least two entrepreneurs offered the Feis Ile “exclusives” of Lagavulin and Caol Ila in their web shops. Even though the price is lower than in Britain, they are still steep for what you get. The same entrepreneurs also offer sampled versions of these bottles. I used to collect the Caol Ila Feis Ile range, but stopped a few years ago because a of those ridiculous prices. The secondary market will help me soon enough. But we were still curious, so we got the sample below.
Caol Ila 8 years old, bottled for Feis Ile 2025 at 57,8 % abv
First things first: For Feis Ile 2025, Caol Ila produced 1476 bottles of this 8 years old. On the bottle we read that this Islay malt was “finished in toasted Colombian Oak – Quercus Humboldtii”, also known as Andean oak.
Upon Sipping: The Whiskybase entry talks of refill, PX and oloroso as initial maturation, then the finish, but I cannot find anything to back up this claim. The bottle only refers to the finish. Well, all oak aside, the peat is most dominant on this Caol Ila expression. There is a distinct hint of mint, that I have come to associate with Colombian oak, that I found for instance in Tomatin’s Cu Bocan expression. Of course, here, the peat is something to reckon with. It creates more balance on the nose, for sure. The taste feels enveloped, as if the whisky wears a cloak, or (cl)oak, but then there is a burst of brine and peat smoke, that you would easily expect from a young Caol Ila. Very satisfying on the distillery character, perhaps with the only thing missing the typical oily mouthfeel of this distillery.
With a drop of water, the nose turns more vegetal, with autumnal elements like dead leaves on the ground, bare trees in a forest after a storm. The peat fire is put out a little after that water. On the palate, an outspoken sweetness enters the fold, creamy peat, ashy lemons and hints of lavender. The balance is excellent. I guess here is where we also see the influence of oloroso and PX casks, adding a spiciness that gives more depth. The lavender influenced finished is a little troublesome, but remains at the right side of the line.
Word to the Wise: An interesting Caol Ila, that’s for sure, and it has quite some quality to offer. We have seen some Colombian oak finishes or maturation around in recent years, and I think I like what it does with our traditional palates, while at the same time being not too overpowering.
Score: 86 points.