Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2009 Cask #DL 15596 (Old Particular)

A Caol Ila of a 12 year old chosen by the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, distilled in 2009, from cask DL 15596, bottled at 48.4%, one of 323 bottles. Caol Ila is prized for a smoke that leans to lemon and olive oil rather than tar. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

It was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, giving a clean, lemony peat. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.4%, it is intense. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.