Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2011 (Old Malt Cask)

A Caol Ila of a 12 year old chosen by the independent Hunter Laing, distilled in 2011, bottled at 50%, one of 750 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Here the spirit was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

At 50% without water it is rich and full. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.