Caol Ila 10 Years Old 1996 Cask #14599 -14601 (Ian Macleod)

A Caol Ila drawn by the bottler Ian Macleod, distilled in 1996, from cask 14599-14601, bottled at 43%, one of 1200 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

This was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At an easy 43% it is gentle. Smoked lemon, brine and a green olive note, with a creamy oak note. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is an elegant Islay single malt.