Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2007 Cask #DL 15935 (Old Particular)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing released this Caol Ila, a 15 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask DL 15935, bottled at 54.6%, one of 710 bottles. Caol Ila is Diageo's largest Islay distillery. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

It was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and apple) and a waxiness, the phenols softening to a coastal whisper. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

At 54.6% without water it is rich and full. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.