Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2011 Cask #144 (Orcines)

From the bottler Orcines, an 8 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2011, from cask 144, bottled at 46%, one of 287 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

Here the spirit was distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, building the elegant Islay smoke at its heart. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted hemicellulose sugars (a light caramel) fast, the phenols still sharp and medicinal. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

At 46% it is soft, oily and bright. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a light bourbon sweetness. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.