Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2015 Cask #25004 (Malts of Scotland)

A 10 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Malts of Scotland, from cask 25004, bottled at 56.9%, one of 303 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

It was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, shaping the lighter side of Islay. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke.

At a hearty 56.9% it carries real weight. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with grape, honey and a floral lift from the cask. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.