Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2013 Cask #319935 (Global Whisky Limited)

The bottler Global Whisky Limited selected this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 2013, from cask 319935, bottled at 58.4%, one of 292 bottles. Caol Ila is a workhorse of the blending halls and a favourite of malt drinkers. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness beneath the smoke. In these extractive early years the oak surrenders vanillin as vanilla and cis oak lactones as coconut, while guaiacol carries a vivid, lemony peat smoke. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

At its natural 58.4% it is concentrated. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.