Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2010 Artist Collective #6.8 (LMDW)

From the bottler La Maison du Whisky, an 11 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2010, bottled at 59.1%, one of 1185 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

Bottled at a cask strength 59.1%, it is intense. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is an elegant Islay single malt.