Caol Ila 7 Years Old 2008 Cask #311053 (Morrison and MacKay)

The bottler Morrison and MacKay selected this Caol Ila, a 7 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 311053, bottled at 46%, one of 384 bottles. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

Here the spirit was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it.

At an easy 46% it is gentle. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.