Caol Ila 40 Years Old 1982 Cask #691 (Private Collection)

A 40 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 1982 from the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, from cask 691, bottled at 49.5%, one of 121 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

Distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. At this great, fragile age oxidation has the last word, ethereal esters, beeswax and old polished tannins where the smoke once was. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

At its natural 49.5% it is concentrated. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.