Little Brown Dog Unpeated Caol Ila 12yo & Caol Ila 11yo Fèis Ìle 2026 “Tequila Caol Ila”

Little Brown Dog Unpeated Caol Ila 12yo

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.3%

Price: £115.00

Distilled at Caol Ila Distillery on the 17th December 2013 and bottled on the 5th May 2026 after 12 years of maturation, this small batch release of unpeated Caol Ila was matured in two refill bourbon barrels and bottled with an outturn of 384 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with lemon juice, green apples, lemon sherbet, and fudge. It feels light and fruity, with just a hint of alcohol spice. Returning to it, we find passion fruit, brown sugar, and grape must. Pleasant and while there is something here that hints at Islay we’d have probably guessed Bunnahabhain blind and not Caol Ila.

Palate

The palate opens with Apple Tizer, chocolate, caramel, sour cherries, lemonade, and strawberry jam. Like the nose, it is light and fruity. It is not obviously Caol Ila, but it is certainly enjoyable. A gentle warming pepper spice joins the other notes on the medium length finish. The mouthfeel is good, with a slight coastal tinge to it.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out fresh milk, croissants, butter, and a coastal sea breeze, pushing many of the pre-dilution notes into the background. We would be careful with this one, as too much water can have a detrimental effect on the nose.

Palate (with water)

The diluted palate now has more spice on the finish. We are also getting more caramel, fudge, and toffee, while many of the fruitier notes have dimmed. The mouthfeel has held up well and the finish remains a good length, but as mentioned, it has become just a little too spicy for our tastes.

Conclusion

It is always exciting to try something a little different, and unpeated Caol Ila definitely fits the bill. Undiluted, we found plenty to enjoy here on both the nose and the palate. While it may not scream Caol Ila, the light, fruity profile is highly enjoyable and makes for an easy drinking and tasty dram.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

While it is far from the cheapest Caol Ila you can buy, we have no doubt that the extra cost reflects the expense of sourcing unpeated Caol Ila casks.

Caol Ila 11yo Fèis Ìle 2026 “Tequila Caol Ila”

Region: Islay

ABV: 56.1%

Price: £145.00

Released for Fèis Ìle 2026, this 11 year old Caol Ila was matured in American oak ex Don Julio Tequila casks. Bottled at natural cask strength for the festival, it was nicknamed “Tequila Caol Ila” by the distillery. No official outturn was stated. 

Nose

The nose opens with bacon, lemon icing sugar, smoke from a burning log fire, and dry earth. The alcohol is well integrated showing as a gentle pepper spice. Returning to it, we find toffee, pineapple chunks, and peanut butter. The tequila cask influence is not especially noticeable, but it has an enjoyable nose overall.

Palate

The palate opens with a nice hit of peat, alongside many of the notes found on the nose, particularly bacon. There are also notes of caramel, toffee, and vanilla. The alcohol is again well integrated, showing mainly as a light pepper spice on the finish. The mouthfeel is just missing a little something. There is a hint of agave on the palate, though it is not especially prominent. Overall, there is good mix between the peat and sweeter notes.

Nose (with water)

A few drops of water soften some of the smoke. The nose becomes more savoury, with notes of cashew nuts, agave syrup, melon, and green apples really coming to the fore.

Palate (with water)

Dilution brings out more dried earth and ash on the palate, while also increasing the sweetness. The mouthfeel remains unchanged. There is still minimal spice on the finish. Overall, it is very similar to the undiluted palate.

Conclusion

We will be honest, we were not expecting to enjoy this. Tequila cask whisky has never really been something we have gelled with. Fortunately, the influence of the tequila casks feels less prominent here than in other examples we have tried. Instead, we found a dram with some interesting and enjoyable flavours.

Score: 7/10

Value

Sadly, as usual, the price of the Caol Ila festival release is just too high for us.

• 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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