Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2001 Cask #308843 + 45 (G&M)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Caol Ila, a 12 year old, distilled in 2001, from cask 308843 + 45, bottled at 59.2%. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

This was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make.

At a natural 59.2% it is full and oily. A smoky, briny coastal character, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.