Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2010 Cask #318234 (Glenscoma)

The bottler Glenscoma selected this Caol Ila, a 15 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 318234, bottled at 58.3%, one of 336 bottles. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

This was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and apple) and a waxiness, the phenols softening to a coastal whisper. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift.

At 58.3% without water it is rich and full. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a light bourbon sweetness. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.