Caol Ila 33 Years Old 1984 Cask #6103 (G&M)

A 33 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 1984 from the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, from cask 6103, bottled at 52.7%, one of 165 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

Distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. At this great, fragile age oxidation has the last word, ethereal esters, beeswax and old polished tannins where the smoke once was. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat.

At a hearty 52.7% it carries real weight. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.