Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2000 Cask #309945-8 + 310260-1 (Wilson & Morgan)

A 13 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2000 from the Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan, from cask 309945-8 + 310260-1, bottled at 50%, one of 1684 bottles. Caol Ila is the most heavily bottled of all the Islay malts. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

This was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding only a light vanilla. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus.

Bottled at a cask strength 50%, it is intense. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.