Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2013 Cask #319942 (Global Whisky Limited)

The bottler Global Whisky Limited bottled this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 2013, from cask 319942, bottled at 55.9%, one of 267 bottles. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

It was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. An unusual cask gave the spirit a distinctive, fruity twist. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass.

At a natural 55.9% it is full and oily. Smoked lemon, brine and a green olive note, with plum and red berry from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.