Caol Ila 20 Years Old 1995 Cask #DL 10870 (Old Particular)

From the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 20 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 1995, from cask DL 10870, bottled at 51.5%, one of 282 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

It was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. Through oxidative maturity the phenols mellow and esters concentrate, citrus turning to candied lemon over a soft peat. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit.

At 51.5%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.