Caol Ila 28 Years Old 1983 Cask #3618 (Duncan Taylor)

A 28 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Duncan Taylor, from cask 3618, bottled at 54.2%, one of 413 bottles. Caol Ila is a workhorse of the blending halls and a favourite of malt drinkers. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

This was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, giving a clean, lemony peat. 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 spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus.

At a natural 54.2% it is full and oily. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.