Caol Ila 18 Years Old 2007 Cask Series 026 (North Star)

The bottler North Star Spirits selected this Caol Ila, an 18 year old, distilled in 2007, bottled at 54.4%, one of 228 bottles. Caol Ila is prized for a smoke that leans to lemon and olive oil rather than tar. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

The spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Oxidative maturity brings a waxy, fruity depth, ethyl esters of orchard fruit building as the peat turns gentle and coastal. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character.

At a full 54.4% it is bold and oily. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.