Review #696 - Ingelred Caol Ila 10 Year Single Cask

Ingelred is an independent bottling brand based on Sweden; they've partnered with bottlers Blackadder to bring a series of single malt Scotch whiskies to the market, especially focusing on distilleries like Ben Nevis. The idea behind Ingelred is 'whisky with an edge' - that is, whisky that is innovative or unusual, perhaps a bit sharp; accordingly, the name Ingelred actually comes from a sword in Nordic lore.

Ingelred has done one bottling of Caol Ila - this is that single cask, a 10 year old example which spent its life maturing in an ex-bourbon cask. They don't say whether it's a first fill or refill bourbon cask, but the color is quite light... in fact, it almost has a greenish tint to it. This was bottled at a cask strength of 56.4% ABV in 2021.

Ingelred Caol Ila 10 Year Single Cask

Scotland/Islay - Single Malt

Price: USD 108 (2025)

Age Statement: 10 Years

Strength: 56.4% ABV

Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon cask

Details: Cask 307971; distilled April 2011, bottled August 2021; 295 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 years; bottles at 50%, 60%, and 40% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: A little bit sharp and spirity, with strong peat, mossy notes, and pepper. There's a vegetal and herbal side to this as well, and we get brighter notes of lemon, white bread, and vanilla. Time brings oranges, lime, and a hint of barbecued meat.

Palate: Sharp, peppery notes and relatively strong peat lead the way again; spicy grilled jalapeno and drying oak add to the brash side. Lemon adds a soft citrus note, and behind that, we get a sweeter baking side of creamy vanilla and custard. There's a hint of sea brine; the mouthfeel is medium-thick.

Finish: Yogurt and custard notes continue from the end of the palate, and we get baked goods like lemon pie. Lots of lemon in general, really; the peat smoke is pleasant and becomes velvety as it lingers. Dry, ashy oak arrives in the aftertaste, along with hints of chalk and vanilla; it's a long finish.

Final Note: A bit of a classic distillate-forward Caol Ila. Peat is plentiful, accented by a lots of citrusy lemon flavors and a bit of sea salt. The ex-bourbon casks add a nice vanilla baking spice side, and the texture is great, especially as it's accented by those custard-like flavor notes in the palate. This is a very good single malt, proof of how solid Caol Ila whisky is, even when the casks have quite a mild influence.

Value is just about average in our books; independently bottled Caol Ila has gotten more and more expensive in the past 5 years, and it's no longer easy to find it cheaper than $10 per year of aging here in the US. We think this specific single cask from Ingelred is fairly priced in the scheme of things.

Our Average Rating: 7.4 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 6.23

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.