Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #301634 (Samaroli)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Italian bottler Samaroli, a 12 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 301634, bottled at 49%, one of 198 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

Here the spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. 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. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore.

Bottled at a cask strength 49%, it is intense. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a creamy oak note. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.