Caol Ila 11 Years Old UD Wild Wolf of Islay (UD – bottler)

A Caol Ila drawn by the bottler UD - bottler, distilled in 2008, bottled at 52.8%, one of 250 bottles. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

Here the spirit was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, building a refined, maritime peat. An ex-Bourbon barrel gave a gentle sweetness and a creamy edge. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays.

At a full 52.8% it is bold and oily. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with a creamy oak note. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.