Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2011 Cask #CI1125 (Hidden Spirits)

A 13 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Hidden Spirits, from cask CI1125, bottled at 51.8%. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

The spirit was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift.

Undiluted at 51.8%, it is powerful. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.