Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2008 Cask #4031329 (Duncan Taylor)

From the bottler Duncan Taylor, a 14 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2008, from cask 4031329, bottled at 54.1%, one of 77 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

The spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At its natural 54.1% it is concentrated. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.