Caol Ila 12 Years Old (56.2%)

An official Caol Ila, a 12 year old, at 56.2%, 1500 bottles in all. Caol Ila is Diageo's largest Islay distillery. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke.

At a natural 56.2% it is full and oily. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.