Caol Ila 18 Years Old ChWh (Chorlton Whisky)

An 18 year old Caol Ila, from the bottler Chorlton Whisky, bottled at 50.7%, one of 276 bottles. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

It was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed and ellagitannin tannins lend a polished, drying frame to the smoke. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At cask strength 50.7% it is muscular. Smoked lemon, brine and a green olive note, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.