Firkin Islay: Caol Ila 2010 Whisky in Custom Marsala Cask

Key Facts About This Single Malt Scotch

Bottler: The Firkin Whisky Company

Whisky Maker: Mike Collings

Distillery: Caol Ila

Age: 2010 Vintage 

Region: Islay, Scotland 

Spirit: Single cask, single malt scotch 

Cask Type: Double wood, ex-marsala

Alcohol by Volume: 48.9%

Bottled: Natural colour and without chill filtration

Outturn: 325 Bottles

Bottle Size: 700ml

Awards: Gold medal, Whiskies Of The World Awards, Peated Whiskies category

Firkin Islay Tasting Notes

Official tasting notes

Kapow! Smoke! Call the Fire Brigade! A waft of peat & smoke.

You only need to dig a bit for the malt and creamy oak which holds it together. This whisky has everything: big burning embers, smoky bonfire and a tad of mellowed sweetish oak. It's a peppery and lively spirit.

So chewy, so smoky, so Firkin Islay.

Ed's tasting notes

Colour: Natural, amber. Oily, coats my glass.

Nose: Paprika rubbed pork ribs on the bbq, with the rendered fat hitting the coals and turning into smoke. Malt loaf with homemade butter. A sweetness in the form of forest berry compote over natural Greek yoghurt.

Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Smokiness like burnt brisket ends - bold but not brash. Another touch of sweetness, this time like wild honey. That coastal minerality I often find in Coal Ila, briny pebbles on the beach. A visit to the spice cupboard - dried lemon, ginger, paprika, black pepper. Well integrated alcohol (48.9%) adds body without burn.

Finish: Medium to long. Honey, smoke and spice. Warm, and ready for another sip.

About Firkin Islay Caol Ila 2010 Whisky

This is the story of two islands: Islay & Sicily and how they produced an award-winning whisky. 

Firkin Islay combines the peaty smokiness of Caol Ila 2010 with the Muscat grape sweetness of Marsala. The flavours fuse together in Firkin Whisky Co's custom double wood cask. Their unique process mellows and softens the peat. Firkin Islay is a new take on a classic Islay whisky.

Salty peat & smoke with a touch of sweetness. Firkin Islay Coal Ila won a gold medal in the Whiskies of the World awards in the peated whiskies category. But that doesn’t come as a massive surprise to us, as this is a superb single cask release from Firkin Whisky Company. 

Read more about Firkin Islay in our blog here, and more about Firkin Whisky's approach here.