Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2011 (The Good Spirits Co.)

From the bottler The Good Spirits Co, a 10 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2011, bottled at 57.2%, one of 279 bottles. Caol Ila is a workhorse of the blending halls and a favourite of malt drinkers. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

Here the spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily.

Undiluted at 57.2%, it is powerful. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.