Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2011 The Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks (Elixir)

Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers bottled this Caol Ila, a 10 year old, distilled in 2011, bottled at 48%. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

It was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. 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%, it is powerful. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.