Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #309453 (Adelphi)

A Caol Ila of a 12 year old chosen by the Adelphi bottler, distilled in 2008, from cask 309453, bottled at 53.9%, one of 272 bottles. Caol Ila wears its Islay smoke more lightly than its southern neighbours. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Here the spirit was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

At its natural 53.9% it is concentrated. Smoked lemon, brine and a green olive note, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.