Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2011 Cask #317212 (van Wees)

A 10 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2011 from the Dutch bottler van Wees, from cask 317212, bottled at 46%, one of 286 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

The spirit was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At 46% it is supple and oily. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with honeyed oak underneath. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.