Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2011 Cask #DL 13086 (Provenance)

An 8 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2011 from the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, from cask DL 13086, bottled at 46%, one of 412 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

Distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. An American oak hogshead added vanilla and a light toffee. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

At 46% it is clean and coastal. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.