Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2008 JD’s Personal Choice No. 3 (Sansibar)

The bottler Sansibar bottled this Caol Ila, a 12 year old, distilled in 2008, bottled at 53.7%, one of 330 bottles. Caol Ila makes a clean, maritime malt on the east coast of Islay. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding only a light vanilla. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

At a hearty 53.7% it carries real weight. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an elegant Islay single malt.