Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2009 Finest Whisky Berlin (Sansibar)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Sansibar, a 12 year old, distilled in 2009, bottled at 59.4%, one of 456 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. 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. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types.

At cask strength 59.4% it is muscular. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.