Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021 vs Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release)

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release)
DistilleryCaol IlaEagle Rare
Region
CountryScotlandAmerica
TypeSingle MaltBourbon
ABV57%50.5%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£150£150
Rating5.00/5

Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021

Smoke64/100
Sweetness51/100
Beginner25/100
Value0/100

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness69/100
Beginner60/100
Value33/100

Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release) is better value at £150 vs £150.

For beginners: Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (57%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (50.5%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Caol?

Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021 is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Who should buy Eagle?

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Honey

Only Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2021

SherriedFresh FruitSmokeyFragant

Only Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2022 Release)

VanillaNew WoodToastedChocolate

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