Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2007 Cask #Batch 21/067 (Connoisseurs Choice)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail released this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask Batch 21/067, bottled at 45%, one of 3934 bottles. Caol Ila wears its Islay smoke more lightly than its southern neighbours. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

At 45% it is supple and oily. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is an elegant Islay single malt.