Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2008 Cask #361933 (James Eadie)

The bottler James Eadie selected this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 361933, bottled at 55.4%, one of 285 bottles. Caol Ila makes a clean, maritime malt on the east coast of Islay. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

It was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At a natural 55.4% it is full and oily. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with a dry, nutty edge from the cask. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.