Thompson Bros. Caol Ila 10yo
RMW Exclusive| 56.7% ABV
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
Fabulously soft for the Islay powerhouse
Blind Samples Can Be a Great way of Stripping Away Unconscious Bias
As Archibald highlighted in his review of the Brace of Cooley single malts, we can all be suspect of hoarding bottles of whisky which we plan on opening for that ‘special’ occasion. I for one have done it before, buying a Glengoyne 21 to keep for my wedding day (I was lucky to get it for £90 on Bezos marketplace - an absolute steal). When my wedding day fell during the height of lockdown part 2 in the U.K., I opened the bottle and then shared the rest with whisky drinkers in the family who (safely) attended on the day. I often said to myself ‘I'll keep this for a special occasion’, which never really materialises and maybe just an excuse I proclaim so I can buy another bottle!
Since opening that Glengoyne, I’ve basically opened all the bottles I have here at home. Every single one. Experiencing what I can and enjoying what I’ve purchased, but stored away for a rainy day. I can’t take any of these bottles with me when I ultimately part this mortal realm, nor am I ever going to hold on to anything long enough to flip it (if it would be even worthy of inflated prices on the secondary market).
I’m not one for impulse purchases of whisky bottles and would maybe pull the trigger on one bottle per month (if there’s space in the cabinet). It came to that time of the year where the yearly company bonus was about to be rewarded and I thought I’d treat myself. Clearly, I don’t have enough whisky as it is! Scanning many online specialist retailers in the hope the anticipated Cask Strength Ardnamurchan would be available, I came across a gem on Royal Mile Whiskies.
The Independent bottlers Thompson Bros from Dornoch have been covered in a variety of reviews by Dallas here on Dramface, there’s a bit more of an insight into Dornoch indie bottlers here on his Teaninich piece.
I think their beautiful and unorthodox labelling turns their releases into a piece of artwork as well as the liquid inside. Coming across this bottling, knowing how popular releases can be, it wasn’t even a second thought before I added it to my basket. I had only tried 1 other Caol Ila prior to purchasing this. A 2010 Douglas Laing expression bottled May 2020 coming in at 58.9% ABV, having been finished (for 3 years) in Moscatel Roxo casks (covered here by Dallas). That sample was utterly delicious and with the Diageo distillery not as ‘ferocious’ as their Islay cousins, I was keen to try more. Online, the core range 12-year-old was going for £45-50….so it was a no brainer to purchase this indie bottling at cask strength coming in at 10 years old.
Before arriving, I thought to myself it would be cool to get the thoughts of this Caol Ila from the other Dramface contributors, collaborating on this expression. I’m always interested in finding out how a whisky is viewed and explored by another enthusiast, and what tasting notes they jot down while sipping a dram. Why not make it even more fun, and send out the sample blind? Unfortunately, with the whole ‘Brexit’ thing I had to limit the sample sending to those residing in the U.K. So Dougie was the man who fancied a laugh, and the blind challenge was set. Along with a few other samples that contained key info of the liquid inside on the bottle label, Dougie was sent a sample bottle labelled ‘Blind Sample’. He wasn’t told the country, region, age or ABV. Only time would tell what Dougie thought of this whisky… and a part of me hoped he liked it.
I’m not sure if many of you have had the chance to sample a whisky blind. A very fun way that allows us to strip away any preconception we have of a particular brand, or on regionality too, so we can properly experience the liquid for what it truly is. I recall an infamous tale of a Springbank 15 that received a low score when sampled blind. The masses were up in arms. How dare someone have an opinion?! It also helps get an unbiased opinion on a liquid. The person tasting blind may encounter a note or flavour they might not have picked up on if they are clued up on the bottle expression and typical tasting notes from a distillery. Sipping blind, with a flight allows for a vast contrast of flavours as well. I remember another blind flight YouTube video featuring Vin from No Nonsense Whisky, where the Tomatin Legacy really stood out from the line up. That drove me to buy a bottle more than any other video I’ve watched of someone navigating their way through more expensive or complex whiskies.
If you don’t have the immediate avenue of getting some random blind samples sent off to you, another approach can be in the form of experiencing something semi-blind. Get someone (preferably someone you know) to grab a few bottles from your own collection, and pour them out. You’ll know your own bottle list but not what they’ve selected or poured into the glass. It can be a fun way to share bottles, or introduce the concept to whisky clubs. Either way, I highly recommend it to everyone at any stage. It can pull up some very interesting surprises.
“Caol Ila lies just north of Port Askaig on the Sound of Islay at the end of a tortuous cul-de-sac over-looking the Paps of Jura. It was built in 1846 by a Glasgow businessman with extensive distilling interests. ”
Review
Distilled in January 2012, matured in a recharred hogshead for a decade. Was 1 of 270 bottles at 56.7% ABV.
£57.95 before selling out
Nose
Slow wave of soft fruit sweetness, not what I would immediately expect from a cask strength Islay. That fruitiness runs into a warm caramel, almost like a chocolate caramel. Here comes the smoke. Small wafts, enough to grab your attention. Mixed with some saltiness, and cold sliced salami. A little BBQ sauce. Some more sweetness in the form of Rhubarb & Custard hard sweets… then into a thick skin on top of cold custard.
Palate
Hello there, meat and smoke, just as I expected. That BBQ sauce from the nose is there too. The BBQ element turns into some grilled vegetables and a bit earthy. It does have a funk to it. Some shavings of tobacco and white pepper along with the lingering smoke. Blasts of citrus rush into the foray at the back end of the smoke. Think of an orange rind. Burnt flaky pastry with the vanilla custard from the nose. Soft cheese and more rich, salty meat too.
Score: 7/10
Dougie’s Notes
Blind samples. The mystery of it all. Will I like it, or will I loathe it? Will I be able to discern any separation of flavours and be able to contribute positively to this task - or will I hit the right notes at all? A bit of pressure, then.
This was delivered to me alongside 4 other generous drams from Hamish, and I forgot about it. It sat at the back of my supershelf unloved, whilst I tried the smorgasbord of other samples building up. It was only when Hamish reminded me, that I reached back and uncorked it. What a beauty it is too.
Nose
Peated. Sweaty pencil box note after a quick bottle sniff, from weeks ago is now gone. Old El Paso Smoky BBQ Fajita mix replaces it. Sweet perfume, fleeting. Open tin of paint. BBQ Sauce/Meats. Slight flat coca-cola note. Musky. Knackered wood table. Distant bread. Heathery floral sweetness.
One Drop of water later: coke notes are more prominent. A marijuana waft from a vennel. Oven baked fish and chips smell dribbling from an open window whilst standing in the garden.
Palate
Very sweet arrival - vanilla like sun cream but not saccharine! Medicinal shift followed by a wave of heat. Tapers off nicely and with good legs. Chorizo from the barbeque. Strong spiced salty meats and sweet barbeque charring. Slight cheese note in the very background - edam style. This is all summer barbeque in a single dram - wonderful stuff.
One drop of water later: that sweetness is softened, as is the heat. Long and delicious finish. I can only surmise this is some sort of Campbeltown malt…
Score: 6/10
The Dregs (Hamish)
I tried this with a little water after a few sips, and the soft approachable smoke seemed to mellow just a bit, which I didn’t want. I have a terrible habit of drowning out my whiskies entirely by adding far too much water. I can never get the proportions correct.
Overall, this was a cracking dram. I enjoyed this thoroughly and a great release from Thompson Bros. It would be interesting to try the core range from Caol Ila in comparison to see how much of the distillate character remains within these independent bottlings. I was very glad to share this with Dougie, even more so to fire it to him blind. I’ll be sure to get him over another sample to enjoy without the piercing eye of a blind challenge over him. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the tasting notes from Dougie and I think you will too. It’s made this bottle that extra bit special for me, and not one that’s for any particular occasion. What is it that a particular Glaswegian whisky-tuber has evangelised: ‘It’s not whisky, until it’s shared’.
Last Dregs (Dougie)
I really enjoyed this - powerful stuff at cask strength and I preferred it this way, over dilution. The wave of sweetness followed by the shifting, morphing flavours was fabulous. Salty, spiced meats and those barbeque sauce notes permeated through each wave of different funkiness, and the length of finish was a joy to let play out. I was totally convinced it was a Campbeltown malt, given that signature funky peat non-descript thing that we all love in Springbank, Kilkerran and Glen Scotia. I was shocked by the fact it was an Islay malt. Never be sure of anything, folks!
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. HF
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