Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2007 Cask #313205 (High Spirits Distribution)

The bottler High Spirits Distribution selected this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 313205, bottled at 50%, one of 336 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years.

At a natural 50% it is full and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a light bourbon sweetness. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.