Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2007 The Clans Label (Sansibar)

From the bottler Sansibar, a 14 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2007, bottled at 52.6%, one of 282 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

Here the spirit was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, building a refined, maritime peat. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

At a full 52.6% it is bold and oily. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with a light bourbon sweetness. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is an elegant Islay single malt.