Finn Thomson Whisky - Caol Ila 2010 - Amarone Cask

FINN THOMSON WHISKY CAOL ILA 15 YEAR OLD, AMARONE FINISH Islay peat meets Italian red wine About Finn Thomson Whisky Finn Thomson is the ninth generation of Scotland's oldest whisky family. The Thomson name traces back to the 1770s through Perthshire, where Peter Thomson Ltd built the beloved Beneagles blended whisky using casks from Longmorn, Clynelish, North British, and other lesser-known workhorses. Finn Thomson Whisky continues that tradition as an independent single cask bottler. Every release is hand-selected, bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered, with natural colour. Eye on the past. Vision for the future. Region Islay Distillery Caol Ila Age 15 years ABV 58% Cask Amarone Finish Outturn 252 bottles A 15 year old Caol Ila finished for nearly two years in an Amarone cask. Islay peat and Italian red wine, in conversation. Distilled October 2010. Bottled February 2026. Single cask at cask strength 58%, non-chill filtered, natural colour. 252 bottles. Imported exclusively by The Whiskey Lab. A meeting of Islay precision and Italian richness, shaped by time and thoughtful maturation. Finn Thomson Distillery profile, Caol Ila Founded in 1846 on the Sound of Islay, overlooking the Paps of Jura from a secluded bay on Islay's eastern coast. One of the largest producers on Islay, though historically under-represented as a single malt because most production goes into blends like Johnnie Walker. House style is coastal and maritime: lighter peat than Islay's heavy-hitters, with citrus brightness and a mineral, briny edge. Long admired for its clarity of spirit and precision of peat, with a character that remains unmistakable across styles and ages. The story of this cask Few distilleries match the quiet consistency and enduring quality of Caol Ila. Long admired for its clarity of spirit and precision of peat, Caol Ila has always been one of my personal favourites, a distillery whose character remains unmistakable across styles and ages. This 15 year old expression was finished for almost two years in an Amarone cask, an influence that brings both intrigue and harmony. Amarone, the celebrated red wine of Italy's Valpolicella region, is made from partially dried grapes, concentrating sugars, flavour and texture before fermentation. The result is a wine of depth and richness, dark cherry, dried fruit, gentle spice and a subtle bittersweet edge. Those characteristics marry beautifully with peated Scotch. The natural sweetness and dried fruit intensity of the Amarone cask soften the maritime smoke, while its structure enhances Caol Ila's citrus brightness and coastal salinity. Rather than masking the peat, the wine amplifies it, creating a layered interplay between smoke, fruit and savoury depth. Tasting notes Nose Coastal smoke meets dark fruit. Seaside bonfire first, then dark cherry, dried fig, and a warming raisin note from the Amarone. Salty minerality sits under everything with a hint of cocoa. A few minutes in the glass bring out leather and stewed plum. Palate Oily and broad. Caol Ila's trademark smoked lemon and brine arrives first, then the Amarone pushes through with cherry preserve, dark chocolate, and a bittersweet wine-like depth. Mid-palate shifts into espresso bean, black pepper, and wood smoke. 58% ABV drives it without burn. Finish Long and evolving. Maritime smoke and dried fruit hold hands through a dry, savoury fade. Graphite, dark cocoa, and a persistent sea salt edge linger. The wine sweetness recedes slowly, leaving ember and oak. A dram that rewards patience. Specification Details Brand Finn Thomson Whisky Whisky style Single malt Scotch whisky (peated) Region Islay Distillery Caol Ila Age 15 years ABV 58% Volume 700 ml Cask Amarone Finish Distillation date 06 October 2010 Bottling date 23 February 2026 Cask number 318082 Outturn 252 bottles Cask strength Yes Non-chill filtered Yes Natural colour Yes