Caol Ila 7 Years Old 2015 Cask #313849 (van Wees)

The Dutch bottler van Wees released this Caol Ila, a 7 year old, distilled in 2015, from cask 313849, bottled at 46%, one of 282 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

Drawn off a high cut from peated barley, building a refined, maritime peat. An American oak hogshead added vanilla and a light toffee. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted hemicellulose sugars (a light caramel) fast, the phenols still sharp and medicinal. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with a creamy oak note. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.