Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2013 Cask #306695 (James Eadie)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler James Eadie, a 10 year old, distilled in 2013, from cask 306695, bottled at 55.3%, one of 306 bottles. Caol Ila is Diageo's largest Islay distillery. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

It was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays.

At 55.3%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A smoky, briny coastal character, with a dry, nutty edge from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.