Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2011 Cask #312217 (BB&R)

A Caol Ila drawn by the London wine merchant Berry Bros and Rudd, distilled in 2011, from cask 312217, bottled at 50.4%, one of 255 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

The spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

Bottled at a cask strength 50.4%, it is intense. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with grape, honey and a floral lift from the cask. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.