Caol Ila Moch is a no-age release, but I’ve heard it’s around 8 years old. Moch means ‘dawn’ – it’s marketed as a lighter version of the standard Caol Ila 12yo and 18yo.
Caol Ila Moch (43%, OB 2010)
Nose: fresh and youngish. Mildly smoky with a sweet, candied profile. Lemon zest and lemon pie. Ginger lemonade. Hints of lemongrass. Coastal notes as well. Pleasantly harmless.
Mouth: oily but the body is a little soft. Sweet, malty and quite fruity. Gentle peat with wood smoke. Creamy lemon (which sometimes had a fragrant, soapy edge). Still quite maritime.
Finish: not too long, with the sweet malt fading first and the smoke having the last word.
The lightness of this Coal Ila Moch made me think of Ardbeg Blasda in a way, although this is certainly more peaty, more typically Islay and more balanced. An elegant introduction to Islay, less bold than the standard bottlings. Around € 30-35.
Score: 82/100