There are a couple of things that bug me about this 2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years and they’re things that bug me about a lot of whisky producers; added coloring, low proof and chill filtration. Unless it was in a sherry cask, and it wasn’t, this whisky shouldn’t be this dark – natural color is always better. 40% ABV means it’s also 60% water and adding too much water kills the depth of a whisky, especially young ones that aren’t very deep to begin with. That lower proof brings about the “need” to chill-filter which removes aromatic and flavorful oils that also enhance the texture.
I know there are cost savings involved when it comes to taxes which is why a lot of producers put out their whisky at 40%. But it seems like you could off-set a bit of that if you weren’t paying for the time, energy, and equipment needs of chill filtering equipment and e150 addition. Then you could pass the rest of the “tax issue” on to the consumer and market the product as having only water added and the natural oils left intact. A 46%+ ABV and natural delivery is what would make me as a consumer more likely to pick up things like the 2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years and is a great pitch even to “uninformed” consumers.
2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Caol Ila
Bottler: Alexander Murray
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Price: $70*
2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years Review
EYE
Apple juice
NOSE
Apples, honey, peat, vanilla, burnt plastic and malt with a touch of charred sugar. Not unpleasant, but light, topical and a bit spirity.
PALATE
Apples, honey, peat, vanilla, malt, charred sugar and a light bit of burnt plastic. Again, Not unpleasant, but light, topical and a bit spirity.
FINISH
Medium fade of peat, fruit and charred sugar.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, medium body and a light watery feel.
OVERALL
The nose on the 2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years is light and a tad spirity – the palate follows suite. Scotch new make tends to be incredibly sweet with a marshmallow-like essence to its spirity nature and a heavy dose of peat helps balance it out. It covers up some of the spirity alcohol notes and gives the whisky a bit more dimension, character and balance. Though peat can only do so much when it gets watered down and its oils are removed.
This 2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years is ok, but would be a lot better if it came in at least at 50%, non-chill filtered and at natural color. Young Caol Ila can be pretty good, but what I’ve noticed through trying quite a few of them is that they need the higher proof and kept as oily as possible to give them some depth. This isn’t a bad whisky by any means, but it could be a whole lot better if delivered in a more natural state. Young whiskies need every advantage they can get.
SCORE: 83/100 (B)
*Disclosure: This 2006 Alexander Murray Caol Ila 8 Years was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
