Caol Ila 13 Years Old SC&C (Spencer Collings & Co.)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Spencer Collings & Co, a 13 year old, from cask 56, bottled at 55.6%. Caol Ila takes its name from the Gaelic for the Sound of Islay. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. 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. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At 55.6%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A smoky, briny coastal character, with raisin and brown sugar from the cask. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an elegant Islay single malt.