Caol Ila 16 Years Old 1998 Cask #10613 (Wilson & Morgan)

The Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan bottled this Caol Ila, a 16 year old, distilled in 1998, from cask 10613, bottled at 50%, one of 307 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a clean, coastal, oily make. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, structured grip, the smoke now mellow. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At a natural 50% it is full and oily. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with honeyed oak underneath. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.