Caol Ila 13 Years Old Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

The bottler Decadent Drinks bottled this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, bottled at 53.1%, one of 212 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

This was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

Undiluted at 53.1%, it is powerful. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is an elegant Islay single malt.