Caol Ila 35 Years Old 1983 Cask #1506 (Morrison and MacKay)

A Caol Ila of a 35 year old chosen by the bottler Morrison and MacKay, distilled in 1983, from cask 1506, bottled at 51.2%, one of 144 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

It was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. Years in ex-Bourbon wood lent a soft vanilla and a coastal calm. 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. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style.

At a full 51.2% it is bold and oily. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is an elegant Islay single malt.