Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2007 Cask Series 015 (North Star)

The bottler North Star Spirits bottled this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 2007, bottled at 58.9%, one of 655 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

This was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

At 58.9%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.