Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2010 Cask #318156 (Brave New Spirits)

A 12 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2010 from the bottler Brave New Spirits, from cask 318156, bottled at 56%, one of 311 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for a clean, coastal, oily make. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At 56% without water it is rich and full. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.