Caol Ila 12 Year Old - Beer & Whisky Pairing
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The Pairings:
- Slice of Life Lemon Session IPA & Caol Ila
Caol Ila 12 has bright citrus (lemon zest, green apple) notes that align with the lemon-forward character of this Session IPA. This creates a refreshing and zesty bridge between the two.
The whisky’s light smokiness and maritime salinity contrasts nicely with the IPA’s hoppy bitterness, creating a dynamic interaction. The beer's malt backbone may help soften the whisky’s smoky edge, making it more approachable.
Since Slice of Life is a session IPA, it has a lighter body and lower ABV compared to heavier IPAs. This means it won’t overpower Caol Ila’s delicate balance of peat, malt, and citrus.
Best Way to pair these two:
- Sip the Beer First – Let the lemony, hoppy freshness coat your palate.
- Follow with a Small Sip of Caol Ila – Let the whisky’s smoke and citrus notes interact with the beer.
- Try with a Neutral Snack – Something like salted cashews or light crackers can act as a bridge.
This is a great pairing if you enjoy contrast and citrus-forward flavors. The lemony brightness of the beer and the citrus-smoke complexity of Caol Ila can create a refreshing, layered experience.
Not ideal if you dislike bitter or smoky clashes. If the IPA is too hoppy, it may emphasize Caol Ila’s more medicinal notes.
- La Chouffe Cherry & Caol Ila
This is a contrasting pairing, the deep cherry sweetness and tartness of the beer could cut through the peat smoke, creating a playful contract.
Expect Layering complexity with Caol Ila's citrus and vanilla notes complimenting the fruity aspects of the beer.
Finally, look out for the subtle spice from the beers yeast that links well with the whisky's oak and peppery notes.
Best Way to pair these two:
- Alternating Sips – Try sipping the beer first, letting the cherry and malt settle, then following up with Caol Ila to see how the peat and salinity interact.
- Adding a Bridge Element – A small piece of dark chocolate or smoked nuts could help tie the flavors together.
It's a bold pairing, but not a classic one. If you enjoy contrasts, it might be worth a try, but if you prefer harmony in pairings, a sherried whisky (like Aberlour 12 or GlenDronach 12) might match La Chouffe Cherry more seamlessly.
Included in this pairing package:
Caol Ila 12 Year Old 750ml x 1 Bottle | Alc: 43%
La Chouffe Cherry 330ml x 2 Bottles | Alc: 8%
Slice of Life Lemon Session IPA 330ml x 2 Cans | Alc: 4,5%
For Delivery within SA:
All orders are shipped out from our one central warehouse in Montague Gardens in the Western Cape. Local Orders generally take 0-2 working days, deliveries outside of Cape Town, but withing SA are usually completed within 2 to 5 working days.
You will see different shipping rates at checkout. These rates are based on the products in your cart as well as your exact delivery address.
For out of Cape Town orders If the weight exceeds 25kg's there will be an excess delivery charge. We will notify you first before any excess charge is applied. If you wish to know the cost prior to placing your order please contact us.
If there is something wrong with your product we will refund the full 100% back to you.
If you placed an order and would like to cancel you can email info@mothercityliquor.co.za and we will assist with the cancellation process.
Cancellations have a small fee of 10% due to the transaction fees we incur on each order.
If an order has already been sent out to you the shipping fee is not refundable.
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Returns:
If something is wrong with the product you are able to return it to us.
If you'd like to return an item all you need to do is email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za and we will assist with the return process.
Our returns policy lasts 7 working days. If 7 working days have gone by since delivery of your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
The only types of goods are exempt from being returned are our Gift cards.
Sale/Special items:
Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale/special items cannot be refunded.
