Caol Ila 24 Years Old 1975 Cask #460 (Dun Eideann)

A 24 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 1975 from the bottler Dun Eideann, from cask 460, bottled at 58%, one of 315 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Here the spirit was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, shaping the lighter side of Islay. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the spirit. In the oxidative and evaporative years the angel's share concentrates the spirit, tropical esters of mango and pineapple emerging as the smoke fades to a soft ash. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through.

At a hearty 58% it carries real weight. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.