Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2010 Cask #319224-319227-319274 (James Eadie)

The bottler James Eadie selected this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 319224-319227-319274, bottled at 46%, one of 1067 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

This was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the spirit. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

At 46% it is soft, oily and bright. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.