Caol Ila 21 Years Old 2002 Cask #14600104 (Connoisseurs Choice)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail released this Caol Ila, a 21 year old, distilled in 2002, from cask 14600104, bottled at 52.5%, one of 159 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

Here the spirit was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend dried fruit while ellagitannins add a drying, structured grip, the smoke now mellow. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through.

At its natural 52.5% it is concentrated. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.