Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2007 Cask #302331 & 302333 (Wilson & Morgan)

From the Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan, a 14 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2007, from cask 302331 & 302333, bottled at 52.4%, one of 510 bottles. Caol Ila is a workhorse of the blending halls and a favourite of malt drinkers. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

It was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, giving a clean, lemony peat. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke.

At a natural 52.4% it is full and oily. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.