Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2009 Cask #2201172 (The Caskhound)

A Caol Ila drawn by the bottler The Caskhound, distilled in 2009, from cask 2201172, bottled at 54.7%, one of 401 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, for a clean, coastal, oily make. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

At 54.7% without water it is rich and full. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a dry, nutty edge from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.