Caol Ila 27 Years Old 1979 Cask #DL 3896 (Douglas Laing)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing bottled this Caol Ila, a 27 year old, distilled in 1979, from cask DL 3896, bottled at 50%, one of 240 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

It was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. In these late, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to a waxy, tropical depth, the ellagitannin grip holding the fading peat in frame. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Undiluted at 50%, it is powerful. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.