Caol Ila 30 Years Old 1980 Cask #4688 (Wilson & Morgan)

Barrel Selection – Collector's Edition

700ml / 58.8%

Single Malt

$1010

The Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan bottled this Caol Ila, a 30 year old, at 58.8%. Clean and coastal, the smoke leans to lemon and olive oil. It is the most independently bottled of all the Islay malts. One of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. This is the smoky workhorse of Johnnie Walker in single malt form.

Only 1 left in stock

Only 1 left

SKU CIL1110 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

A Caol Ila drawn by the Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan, distilled in 1980, from cask 4688, bottled at 58.8%, one of 196 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

The spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, building a refined, maritime peat. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. At an ethereal, fragile age the spirit turns delicate, sotolon lending a maple and old oak depth as beeswax and a ghost of smoke linger. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

At 58.8% without water it is rich and full. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.