Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2010 (Old Particular) (58.5%)

An 8 year old Caol Ila from the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, bottled at 58.5%, one of 310 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

It was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. In these extractive early years the oak surrenders vanillin as vanilla and cis oak lactones as coconut, while guaiacol carries a vivid, lemony peat smoke. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift.

At cask strength 58.5% it is muscular. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.