Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2013 Cask #309408 (Lady of the Glen)

A Caol Ila of an 11 year old chosen by the bottler Lady of the Glen, distilled in 2013, from cask 309408, bottled at 55.4%, one of 299 bottles. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

This was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At 55.4%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.