Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2007 Cask #302324 (Wilson & Morgan)

The Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan selected this Caol Ila, a 15 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 302324, bottled at 53.9%. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Here the spirit was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and apple) and a waxiness, the phenols softening to a coastal whisper. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character.

At 53.9% without water it is rich and full. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.