Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #303644 (The Single Cask Ltd.)

A 13 year old Caol Ila from the bottler The Single Cask Ltd, from cask 303644, bottled at 54.5%, one of 270 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

This was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

At its natural 54.5% it is concentrated. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.