Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2008 Cask #301637 (Brachadair)

An 11 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2008 from the bottler Brachadair, from cask 301637, bottled at 59.8%, one of 103 bottles. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Here the spirit was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Bottled at a cask strength 59.8%, it is intense. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.