Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2013 Exploration Series (Claxton’s)

The bottler Claxton's bottled this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 2013, bottled at 50%. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Here the spirit was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A refill hogshead held it quietly, the spirit left to lead. In these extractive early years the oak surrenders vanillin as vanilla and cis oak lactones as coconut, while guaiacol carries a vivid, lemony peat smoke. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At a full 50% it is bold and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a light bourbon sweetness. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.