Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2005 Cask #301547 (G&M)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 2005, from cask 301547, bottled at 54.8%, one of 225 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

Here the spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, shaping the lighter side of Islay. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.8%, it is intense. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.