Caol Ila 13 Years Old SpFi (Spiritfilled)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Spiritfilled, a 13 year old, from cask 300820, bottled at 54%, one of 233 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

The spirit was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At 54% without water it is rich and full. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.