Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2011 Cask #61 (Wilson & Morgan)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Italian bottler Wilson and Morgan, an 8 year old, distilled in 2011, from cask 61, bottled at 46%. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass.

At an approachable 46% it is balanced. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.