Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #322392 (Wilson & Morgan)

The Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan bottled this Caol Ila, a 12 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 322392, bottled at 48%, one of 326 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

This was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

At cask strength 48% it is muscular. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.