Caol Ila 26 Years Old 1984 Cask #2770 (Ian Macleod)

The bottler Ian Macleod released this Caol Ila, a 26 year old, distilled in 1984, from cask 2770, bottled at 50.5%, one of 262 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel gave a gentle sweetness and a creamy edge. At this oxidative, evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a polished, drying structure while slow oxidation brings waxy tropical fruit over a ghost of peat. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass.

Bottled at a cask strength 50.5%, it is intense. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with honeyed oak underneath. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.