Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2013 Cask #900892 (Keeble Cask Company Ltd.)

An 11 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2013 from the bottler Keeble Cask Company Ltd, from cask 900892, bottled at 55.6%, one of 262 bottles. Caol Ila has been bottled at every age from young and fierce to old and waxy. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Here the spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the spirit. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus.

At a full 55.6% it is bold and oily. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a soft vanilla from the oak. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.