Caol Ila 9 Years Old 1989 (The Merchant’s Collection)

The bottler The Merchant's Collection released this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 1989, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for a clean, coastal, oily make. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. 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. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.