Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2008 Regional Series (The Single Cask Ltd.)

A Caol Ila of an 11 year old chosen by the bottler The Single Cask Ltd, distilled in 2008, bottled at 48%. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

Distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily.

At a full 48% it is bold and oily. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a creamy oak note. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.