Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2008 Cask #9158 (Scotch Single Malt Circle)

An 11 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Scotch Single Malt Circle, from cask 9158, bottled at 55.5%, one of 366 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

It was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the spirit. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types.

At 55.5%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with honeyed oak underneath. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.