Caol Ila 21 Years Old 1999 Cask #303358 (Samaroli)

The Italian bottler Samaroli selected this Caol Ila, a 21 year old, distilled in 1999, from cask 303358, bottled at 53.7%, one of 150 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Here the spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, structured grip, the smoke now mellow. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

At a full 53.7% it is bold and oily. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with a light bourbon sweetness. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.