Caol Ila 9 Years Old 1998 Cask #12381-12382 (Samaroli)

A Caol Ila drawn by the Italian bottler Samaroli, distilled in 1998, from cask 12381-12382, bottled at 45%, one of 774 bottles. Caol Ila takes its name from the Gaelic for the Sound of Islay. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

This was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

At 45% it is supple and oily. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with a creamy oak note. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.