Caol Ila 16 Years Old 2006 Warehouse Tasting (Cadenhead’s)

A Caol Ila of a 16 year old chosen by Scotland's oldest independent bottler Cadenhead's, distilled in 2006, bottled at 51.3%. Caol Ila was rebuilt in the 1970s into the large distillery it is today. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

The spirit was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, structured grip, the smoke now mellow. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke.

Bottled at a cask strength 51.3%, it is intense. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.