Caol Ila 10 Years Old 1989 Cask #1805 (Mackillop’s Choice)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Mackillop's Choice, a 10 year old, distilled in 1989, from cask 1805, bottled at 58.7%. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

At cask strength 58.7% it is muscular. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with a creamy oak note. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.