Caol Ila 35 Years Old 1990 Whiskyland Chapter Twenty Eight (Decadent Drinks)

A 35 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 1990 from the bottler Decadent Drinks, bottled at 44.5%, one of 226 bottles. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for a clean, coastal, oily make. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. Ethereal and fragile, decades have drawn the spirit to a waxy, tropical delicacy, sotolon and old oak over a soft mineral smoke. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

At 44.5% it is smooth and clean. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is an elegant Islay single malt.