Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2008 Joint bottling with Signatory Vintage (Daily Dram)

From the bottler Daily Dram, a 15 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2008, bottled at 52.8%. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

It was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. In the oxidative middle years the spirit deepens, oxidation drawing out waxy fruit as the guaiacol smoke fades to embers. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years.

At 52.8%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a creamy oak note. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.