Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2007 Cask #319464 (BB&R)

An 11 year old Caol Ila from the London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, from cask 319464, bottled at 55%. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

The spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, giving a clean, lemony peat. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

At 55% without water it is rich and full. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a light bourbon sweetness. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.