Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2010 Cask #HL14572 (Dun Eideann)

From the bottler Dun Eideann, an 8 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2010, from cask HL14572, bottled at 58.2%, one of 252 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. In its extractive youth the spirit takes vanillin vanilla and lactone coconut quickly, the peat phenols vivid and lemony. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

At its natural 58.2% it is concentrated. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.