Caol Ila 12 Years Old 1999 Cask #305339 (G&M)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail selected this Caol Ila, a 12 year old, distilled in 1999, from cask 305339, bottled at 60%, one of 246 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

It was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation.

At a natural 60% it is full and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.