Caol Ila 10 Years Old 1991 Meregalli Giuseppe s.r.l. (G&M)

A Caol Ila of a 10 year old chosen by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1991, bottled at 40%. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

The spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, giving a clean, lemony peat. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character.

At 40% it is smooth and clean. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.