Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2009 Cask #319093 (Acla da Fans)

An 11 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2009 from the bottler Acla da Fans, from cask 319093, bottled at 53.4%, one of 90 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

It was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for a clean, coastal, oily make. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat.

At a full 53.4% it is bold and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with honeyed oak underneath. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.