Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2011 (Sexywhisky)

The bottler Sexywhisky released this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 2011, bottled at 59.4%, one of 30 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

This was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, building a refined, maritime peat. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

At a natural 59.4% it is full and oily. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.