Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2025

Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2025

Region: Islay

ABV: 55.8%

Price: £110.00

This year’s Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2025 release is an 8 year old malt matured in a blend of refill and Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso seasoned casks, that were finished in new Colombian oak before final marrying. It’s a limited edition of 1,476 bottles. 

Nose

Initially on the nose we find beef gravy and bonfire smoke intertwine with prunes, and dry hay, with a hint of raspberry in the background. Going back and there’s some warehouse funk, Cadbury fudge fingers, plums, heather smoke, and whipped cream appearing. Despite the ABV, the nose has very little alcohol spice. It’s also fairly one dimensional, but also doesn’t nose as young as 8 years old. We’re not sure we’d have guessed this was Caol Ila nosing this blind.

Palate

Dark chocolate and crème brûlée bring the sweetness, followed by smoked ham hock, prune juice, and tar. There’s a decent peat punch here, but the other flavours feel a touch muted in comparison. A touch of pepper spice shows up on the medium length finish mingling with the sweetness and peat. Mouthfeel is fine, though a touch thinner than we’d prefer. Like the nose this doesn’t taste as young as 8 years old, but then it also doesn’t scream Caol Ila to us.

Nose (with water)

Reduced we’re finding the nose relatively unchanged. There’s some freshly baked bread, more peanuts, wet newspaper, and hand cooked plain crisps, but as we said it fairly similar. That nutty note does make us think a little of Caol Ila, but we still probably wouldn’t have guessed the distillery if nosing blind.

Palate (with water)

When diluted the finish gains more spice, and there’s some vanilla sweetness, marzipan, porridge oats, and warehouse funk appearing. It’s opened up and gained a little extra much needed complexity. Although, while more spirit character shows now, it’s still not quintessential Caol Ila.

Conclusion

As we mentioned, it’s not a dram that immediately makes us think of Caol Ila, but when diluted and given time to open up, it reveals some interesting flavours and aromas without exposing the youthfulness of the spirit. That said, even once it opens up, it remains a little one dimensional and lacks that something extra to elevate it to the next level. Caol Ila fans might feel the distillery character is too well hidden here, but judged on its own merits, we’re going with a 7.

Score: 7/10

Value

Diageo’s pricing on their releases can at times be excessive, and this one doesn’t really buck that trend. There are definitely better options out there for those looking to get their Caol Ila fix.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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