Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2011 Cask #DL 17166 (Old Particular)

From the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 12 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2011, from cask DL 17166, bottled at 48.4%, one of 327 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Here the spirit was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for a clean, coastal, oily make. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

At a full 48.4% it is bold and oily. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an elegant Islay single malt.