Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2006 Cask #303020 (Creative Whisky Company)

The bottler Creative Whisky Company bottled this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 2006, from cask 303020, bottled at 52.2%, one of 317 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Here the spirit was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

At a natural 52.2% it is full and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.