Caol Ila 23 Years Old 1996 Cask #16075 (Connoisseurs Choice)

Connoisseurs Choice – Cask Strength

700ml / 58.3%

Single Malt

$519

A Caol Ila of a 23 year old chosen by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, at 58.3%. Clean and coastal, the smoke leans to lemon and olive oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The spirit is matured largely on the mainland. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on Islay. This is the smoky workhorse of Johnnie Walker in single malt form.

Only 2 left in stock

Only 2 left

SKU CIL493 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

A Caol Ila of a 23 year old chosen by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1996, from cask 16075, bottled at 58.3%, one of 519 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin, fig and a savoury edge. At this oxidative, evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a polished, drying structure while slow oxidation brings waxy tropical fruit over a ghost of peat. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath.

Undiluted at 58.3%, it is powerful. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.