Caol Ila 17 Years Old 1990 Cask #DL 4055 (Douglas Laing)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing selected this Caol Ila, a 17 year old, distilled in 1990, from cask DL 4055, bottled at 50%, one of 346 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Here the spirit was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. Maturation in a fortified cask lent red fruit and a soft spice. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and apple) and a waxiness, the phenols softening to a coastal whisper. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation.

At its natural 50% it is concentrated. A smoky, briny coastal character, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is an elegant Islay single malt.