Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2010 Cask #307585 (G&M)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, a 15 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 307585, bottled at 57%, one of 613 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Here the spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. Through oxidative maturity the phenols mellow and esters concentrate, citrus turning to candied lemon over a soft peat. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

At a full 57% it is bold and oily. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.