Caol Ila 16 Years Old

Feis Ile 2020

700ml / 53.9%

Single Malt

$304

Caol Ila, a distillery release, a 16 year old, at 53.9%. Smoke, sea spray and an oily lemon fill the glass. Water comes from Loch nam Ban, above the distillery. Its casks mature within sound of the sea. An east coast Islay distillery on the narrow Sound of Islay. This is the smoky workhorse of Johnnie Walker in single malt form.

In stock

Available

SKU CIL029 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

An official Caol Ila, a 16 year old, at 53.9%, 3000 bottles in all. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. In the oxidative middle years the spirit deepens, oxidation drawing out waxy fruit as the guaiacol smoke fades to embers. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

At 53.9% without water it is rich and full. Sea spray, smoke and a citrus lift, with a creamy oak note. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.