Caol Ila 6 Years Old 2011 Cask #DL 12615 (Provenance)

A Caol Ila drawn by the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, distilled in 2011, from cask DL 12615, bottled at 48%, one of 405 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, building a refined, maritime peat. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding only a light vanilla. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way.

At its natural 48% it is concentrated. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.