Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2011 Cask #317239 (van Wees)

The Dutch bottler van Wees bottled this Caol Ila, a 10 year old, distilled in 2011, from cask 317239, bottled at 46%. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

The spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At an approachable 46% it is balanced. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is an elegant Islay single malt.