Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #31479/31480 (House of McCallum)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler House of McCallum, a 13 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 31479/31480, bottled at 46.5%, one of 738 bottles. Caol Ila is the most heavily bottled of all the Islay malts. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving a clean, lemony peat. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays.

At 46.5% it is supple and oily. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is an elegant Islay single malt.