Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2007 Cask #KI-0004 (Kirsch Import)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the bottler Kirsch Import, a 14 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask KI-0004, bottled at 50.3%. Caol Ila makes a clean, maritime malt on the east coast of Islay. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

It was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

At its natural 50.3% it is concentrated. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.