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$78
The Dutch bottler van Wees’s Caol Ila, a 9 year old, 2011, at 46%. A bonfire smoke threads through lemon, brine and oil. The distillery looks out to the Paps of Jura. Its casks mature within sound of the sea. It is Diageo’s largest Islay distillery by some way. Bottled by independents the world over, and by Diageo itself. This is a polished, maritime Islay single malt.
Only 2 left in stock
Description
A Caol Ila of a 9 year old chosen by the Dutch bottler van Wees, distilled in 2011, from cask 317226, bottled at 46%, one of 360 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke.
This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted hemicellulose sugars (a light caramel) fast, the phenols still sharp and medicinal. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.
Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with honeyed oak underneath. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.
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