Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2007 Cask #313317 (Best Dram)

The bottler Best Dram selected this Caol Ila, a 15 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 313317, bottled at 55.7%, one of 259 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

Here the spirit was distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. An unusual cask gave the spirit a distinctive, fruity twist. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed and ellagitannin tannins lend a polished, drying frame to the smoke. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

Undiluted at 55.7%, it is powerful. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with plum and red berry from the cask. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.