Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2007 Cask #321885 (Single Cask Collection)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Single Cask Collection, a 13 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 321885, bottled at 54.3%, one of 276 bottles. Caol Ila takes its name from the Gaelic for the Sound of Islay. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

It was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. An American oak hogshead added vanilla and a light toffee. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

At its natural 54.3% it is concentrated. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with honeyed oak underneath. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.