Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2012 Cask #331912 (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

A Caol Ila of an 8 year old chosen by the bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd, distilled in 2012, from cask 331912, bottled at 55%, one of 330 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

The spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, shaping the lighter side of Islay. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

At 55%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. A smoky, briny coastal character, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.