Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2010 Cask #318073 (Pendulum Spirits Ltd)

An 11 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2010 from the bottler Pendulum Spirits Ltd, from cask 318073, bottled at 60.1%, one of 283 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

This was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, shaping the lighter side of Islay. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus.

At a natural 60.1% it is full and oily. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with honeyed oak underneath. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.