Caol Ila 40 Years Old 1979 Cask #7709 (LMDW)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler La Maison du Whisky, a 40 year old, distilled in 1979, from cask 7709, bottled at 54.9%, one of 156 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

It was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. In its ethereal years the malt is waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, spice) over the merest whisper of peat. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke.

At 54.9%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with honeyed oak underneath. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.