Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #301633 (Samaroli)

From the Italian bottler Samaroli, a 13 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2008, from cask 301633, bottled at 45%, one of 190 bottles. Caol Ila is Diageo's largest Islay distillery. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

Reduced to 45%, it is mellow. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with a creamy oak note. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.