Caol Ila 34 Years Old 1982 (Small Batch)

Scotland's oldest independent bottler Cadenhead's released this Caol Ila, a 34 year old, distilled in 1982, bottled at 51.1%, one of 180 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

Here the spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. 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. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore.

At cask strength 51.1% it is muscular. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is an elegant Islay single malt.