Caol Ila 12 Years Old 1993 Cask #9924 + 9926 (G&M)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Caol Ila, a 12 year old, distilled in 1993, from cask 9924 + 9926, bottled at 57.8%. Caol Ila is the most heavily bottled of all the Islay malts. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

It was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

Undiluted at 57.8%, it is powerful. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.