Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2010 Cask #SC18 (The Firkin Whisky Co. Ltd.)

A 10 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2010 from the bottler The Firkin Whisky Co. Ltd, from cask SC18, bottled at 48.9%. Caol Ila is a workhorse of the blending halls and a favourite of malt drinkers. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

Undiluted at 48.9%, it is powerful. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.