Caol Ila 30 Years Old 1980 The Maltman (Meadowside Blending)

A 30 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Meadowside Blending, bottled at 50.1%. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

It was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. 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. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

At its natural 50.1% it is concentrated. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.