Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2010 Cask #311752 (BB&R)

Single Cask

700ml / 57%

Single Malt

$288

The London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd bottled this Caol Ila, a 14 year old, at 57%. A bonfire smoke threads through lemon, brine and oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Founded at Port Askaig in 1846, it is Islay’s biggest distillery. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on Islay. This is a maritime Islay malt, smoke worn lightly.

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SKU CIL129 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

A Caol Ila drawn by the London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, distilled in 2010, from cask 311752, bottled at 57%, one of 265 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

This was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. 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. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

Undiluted at 57%, it is powerful. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.