Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #2100010 (Murray McDavid)

The independent Murray McDavid released this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 2100010, bottled at 54.5%, one of 308 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

The spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the spirit. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

At a natural 54.5% it is full and oily. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.