Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #14550 (Milroy’s of Soho)

The bottler Milroy's of Soho selected this Caol Ila, a 12 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 14550, bottled at 56.9%. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

The spirit was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. Years in ex-Bourbon wood lent a soft vanilla and a coastal calm. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Undiluted at 56.9%, it is powerful. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.