Caol Ila 20 Years Old Cask #261

This 20 year old Caol Ila comes from the distillery itself, cask 261, at 52.9%, 219 bottles in all. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

Here the spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. In the oxidative middle years the spirit deepens, oxidation drawing out waxy fruit as the guaiacol smoke fades to embers. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

At a natural 52.9% it is full and oily. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.