Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2008 Cask #315430 – 315432 (James Eadie)

An 8 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2008 from the bottler James Eadie, from cask 315430-315432, bottled at 46%, one of 1208 bottles. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

Here the spirit was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, giving a clean, lemony peat. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.