Caol Ila 12 Years Old (57.6%)

Caol Ila, a distillery release, a 12 year old, at 57.6%, 6000 bottles in all. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. 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. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

At a full 57.6% it is bold and oily. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.