Caol Ila 30 Years Old 1979 Cask #5294 (Jack Wiebers Whisky World)

From the bottler Jack Wiebers Whisky World, a 30 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 1979, from cask 5294, bottled at 57.9%, one of 120 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

The spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. At this great, fragile age oxidation has the last word, ethereal esters, beeswax and old polished tannins where the smoke once was. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years.

At a hearty 57.9% it carries real weight. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.