Caol Ila 12 Years Old 2012 Cask #CI301024 (Hidden Spirits)

From the bottler Hidden Spirits, a 12 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2012, from cask CI301024, bottled at 48%. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Here the spirit was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

At its natural 48% it is concentrated. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.