Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2015 Cask #DL 20720 (Old Particular)

A 10 year old Caol Ila from the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, from cask DL 20720, bottled at 48.4%, one of 300 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

This was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A fortified or wine cask gave it a fruity, spiced depth. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At a full 48.4% it is bold and oily. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with plum and red berry from the cask. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is an elegant Islay single malt.