Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2008 (The Whisky Jury)

From the bottler The Whisky Jury, a 13 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2008, bottled at 55%, one of 202 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, giving a clean, lemony peat. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift.

At 55% without water it is rich and full. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.