Caol Ila 25 Years Old 1983 Best Casks of Scotland (Jean Boyer)

A 25 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Jean Boyer, bottled at 46%, one of 300 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

It was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. 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 spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

At an easy 46% it is gentle. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.