Caol Ila 11 Years Old 1993 Cask #3354 – 56 (Ian Macleod)

The bottler Ian Macleod selected this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 1993, from cask 3354-56, bottled at 43%, one of 1260 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through.

Bottled at 43%, it is rounded. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.