Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2011 Cask #DL 15519 (Old Particular)

From the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 10 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2011, from cask DL 15519, bottled at 48.4%, one of 754 bottles. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

It was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, shaping the lighter side of Islay. 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. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

At a natural 48.4% it is full and oily. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.