Caol Ila 6 Years Old 2016 Cask #300563 (Brave New Spirits)

A Caol Ila of a 6 year old chosen by the bottler Brave New Spirits, distilled in 2016, from cask 300563, bottled at 59.6%, one of 257 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Drawn off a high cut from peated barley, shaping the lighter side of Islay. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At a natural 59.6% it is full and oily. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a light bourbon sweetness. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an elegant Islay single malt.