Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2009 Artist Collective #3.2 (LMDW)

A 9 year old Caol Ila from the bottler La Maison du Whisky, bottled at 57.2%, one of 1888 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

It was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted hemicellulose sugars (a light caramel) fast, the phenols still sharp and medicinal. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.2%, it is intense. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.