Caol Ila 12 Years Old

Islay Single Malt Whisky

700ml / 43%

Single Malt

$55

Caol Ila, a distillery release, a 12 year old, at 43%. A lighter Islay smoke, all lemon, brine and a peppery oil. The spirit is matured largely on the mainland. One of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. It is the most independently bottled of all the Islay malts. This is a clean island malt from the strait facing Jura.

In stock

Available

SKU CIL001 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

This distillery bottling of Caol Ila is a 12 year old, at 43%. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

The spirit was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

At an approachable 43% it is balanced. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with honeyed oak underneath. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.