Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2011 (UD – bottler)

A 14 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2011 from the bottler UD - bottler, bottled at 53.3%, one of 127 bottles. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

This was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character.

At 53.3%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with raisin and brown sugar from the cask. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.