Caol Ila 7 Years Old 2016 Cask #EXP1066 (Claxton’s)

A 7 year old Caol Ila from the bottler Claxton's, from cask EXP1066, bottled at 50%. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years.

At cask strength 50% it is muscular. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.