Port Askaig 12 Years Old SMS (Speciality Drinks Ltd)

700ml / 45.8%

Single Malt

$195

A 12 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Speciality Drinks Ltd, at 45.8%. A fresh peat smoke over lemon and a saline oil. Its casks mature within sound of the sea. It stands at Port Askaig, facing Jura across the Sound. The distillery sits below a steep brae on the shore. This is a refined Islay single malt that wears its style lightly.

In stock

Available

SKU CIL952 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Speciality Drinks Ltd, a 12 year old, bottled at 45.8%. Caol Ila wears its Islay smoke more lightly than its southern neighbours. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, shaping the lighter side of Islay. An American oak hogshead added vanilla and a light toffee. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

Bottled at 45.8%, it is rounded. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is an elegant Islay single malt.