Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #314778 (Dram Charaidean)

A 13 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Dram Charaidean, from cask 314778, bottled at 60.3%, one of 130 bottles. Caol Ila makes a clean, maritime malt on the east coast of Islay. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.

It was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At a natural 60.3% it is full and oily. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is an elegant Islay single malt.