Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 years old Sherry Butt Finish Single Cask Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

Nine years is enough time to let peat smoke settle in. Hepburns Choice matured this Caol Ila in bourbon casks and finished it in a sherry butt – the classic double maturation, a reminder that it is the combination of time and wood that shapes a whisky.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with a sherry butt finish, bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 797 bottles.

Hepburns Choice is a series from Langside Distillers – a Scottish independent bottler specialising in single-cask bottlings from a wide range of distilleries. The series is named after the Scottish whisky enthusiast and writer Hepburn.

The bourbon cask provided the structural base – vanilla and fresh fruit – and the sherry butt added the winey layer on top: raisins, honey and spice. Caol Ila's smoke binds it all together.

Tasting notes

Nose

A soft opening with bourbon sweetness and light sherry fruit, behind which Caol Ila's salty smoke and seaweed wait. Raisins and a hint of cloves.

Palate

Soft and balanced. Bourbon vanilla and sherry fruit meet peat smoke and a touch of salt. Good body and light preserved-fruit notes from the finish.

Finish

Medium-length with persistent smoke and a sweet sherry close that slowly fades.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years Sherry Butt Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Langside Distillers (Hepburns Choice)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks with sherry butt finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 797
Series: Hepburns Choice
EAN no.: 5060354272848

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Creamy · Balanced

Did you know?

A sherry butt is the largest standard cask in Scotch whisky tradition, holding around 500 litres against a standard bourbon hogshead's 250. The larger cask gives a slower and more subtle influence, which is why sherry butts are used for finishing.

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Frequently asked questions about Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years Sherry Butt Finish

Is Caol Ila Hepburns Choice 2010 worth it?

Yes. Double maturation – bourbon plus sherry – gives complexity that normally requires more age. 797 bottles, 46% and single cask from Langside Distillers represents solid craft quality.

What is double maturation?

The whisky is matured primarily in one cask type, then finished in another. Here it starts in bourbon casks and finishes in a sherry butt. The result has layers that a single cask alone would not produce.

What is Hepburns Choice?

A single-cask series from Langside Distillers, selecting and bottling casks from Scottish distilleries without chill filtration and with natural colour.

What does a sherry butt finish do to Caol Ila?

The sherry finish adds raisins, honey and soft spice, while Caol Ila's smoke and salt remain intact. The result is more complex than a straight bourbon bottling.

What is the difference between a sherry butt and a hogshead?

A sherry butt is the largest standard Scottish cask at around 500 litres. A hogshead holds 250 litres. The larger cask gives a slower, more subtle wood influence.

Should I add water?

A single drop of water can open the aromas and soften the alcohol. Always try the whisky neat first and adjust from there.

What is Caol Ila?

Caol Ila is owned by Diageo and contributes malt primarily to Johnnie Walker blends. The distillery is Islay's largest, yet far less well-known than its neighbours.

What is Islay's whisky style?

Caol Ila's smoke profile is more restrained than Laphroaig or Lagavulin. Peat-based but maritime and relatively sweet, it suits those curious about peated whisky without wanting the heaviest expressions.