Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2005 Cask #DL 14405 (Old Particular)

A Caol Ila drawn by the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, distilled in 2005, from cask DL 14405, bottled at 48.4%, one of 321 bottles. Caol Ila wears its Islay smoke more lightly than its southern neighbours. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

The spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, shaping the lighter side of Islay. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, structured grip, the smoke now mellow. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.4%, it is intense. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.