Caol Ila 12 Years Old 1995 Cask #10017 (Blackadder)

A 12 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 1995 from the bottler Blackadder, from cask 10017, bottled at 60.8%, one of 591 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

Run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Bottled at a cask strength 60.8%, it is intense. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.