Caol Ila 11 Years Old (Old Particular)

An 11 year old Caol Ila from the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, from cask DL 14042, bottled at 55.5%, one of 302 bottles. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

This was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, building a refined, maritime peat. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus.

At a natural 55.5% it is full and oily. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is an elegant Islay single malt.