USA SHIPPING FROM $28
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USA SHIPPING FROM $28
EU SHIPPING FROM €16
$120
The bottler Valinch & Mallet released this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, 2009, at 52.4%. Lemon, brine and a clean smoke over an oily body. Bottled by independents the world over, and by Diageo itself. Among the most widely traded of Islay’s single malts. Most of its make goes into the Johnnie Walker blends. This is a maritime Islay malt, smoke worn lightly.
Only 1 left in stock
Description
An 11 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2009 from the bottler Valinch & Mallet, from cask 5431, bottled at 52.4%, one of 306 bottles. Caol Ila is prized for a smoke that leans to lemon and olive oil rather than tar. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.
The spirit was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, giving a clean, lemony peat. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.
At its natural 52.4% it is concentrated. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.
Additional information
$120
