Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2000 Cask #309916 (Whisky Import Nederland)

The bottler Whisky Import Nederland released this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 2000, from cask 309916, bottled at 55.6%, one of 162 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

The spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

At 55.6%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.