Caol Ila 11 Years Old ChWh (Chorlton Whisky)

The bottler Chorlton Whisky selected this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 2010, bottled at 60.4%, one of 281 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

Distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation.

At 60.4% without water it is rich and full. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a light bourbon sweetness. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.