Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2010 McCrae’s (Langside Distillers)

The bottler Langside Distillers released this Caol Ila, an 8 year old, distilled in 2010, bottled at 59.5%, one of 313 bottles. Caol Ila has been bottled at every age from young and fierce to old and waxy. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A red wine cask lent berry fruit and a dry, tannic edge. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke.

At 59.5%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with plum and red berry from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.