Caol Ila 10 Years Old 1990 (SMWS 53.49)

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottled this Caol Ila, a 10 year old, distilled in 1990, from cask 53.49, bottled at 56.5%, one of 229 bottles. Caol Ila is a workhorse of the blending halls and a favourite of malt drinkers. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

It was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At 56.5% without water it is rich and full. A smoky, briny coastal character, with honeyed oak underneath. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.