Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #2101095 (Samaroli)

The Italian bottler Samaroli bottled this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 2101095, bottled at 45%, one of 412 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

Here the spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

At 45% it is clean and coastal. Sea spray, smoke and a citrus lift, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.