Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2011 Cask #Batch 1 (BB&R)

Small Batch

700ml / 46%

Single Malt

$97

The London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd picked this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, at 46%. The peat here is bright and lemony over an oily, maritime body. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on Islay. It is the most independently bottled of all the Islay malts. This is one of the most characterful of the Islay malts.

In stock

Available

SKU CIL142 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

An 11 year old Caol Ila from the London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, from cask Batch 1, bottled at 46%, one of 1011 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. 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 clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke.

At 46% it is soft, oily and bright. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.