Caol Ila 40 Years Old ElD The Single Malts of Scotland Director’s Special (Elixir) (49%)

From Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers, a 40 year old Caol Ila, bottled at 49%, one of 135 bottles. Caol Ila is the most heavily bottled of all the Islay malts. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

This was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. Ethereal and fragile, decades have drawn the spirit to a waxy, tropical delicacy, sotolon and old oak over a soft mineral smoke. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character.

At cask strength 49% it is muscular. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.