Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2008 Cask #4036556 (Duncan Taylor)

A 15 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Duncan Taylor, from cask 4036556, bottled at 53.9%, one of 73 bottles. Caol Ila is Diageo's largest Islay distillery. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

Worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and apple) and a waxiness, the phenols softening to a coastal whisper. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years.

At 53.9%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.