Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2014 Cask #KI-2005796 (Kirsch Import)

A Caol Ila of a 9 year old chosen by the bottler Kirsch Import, distilled in 2014, from cask KI-2005796, bottled at 57.9%. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

It was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. Maturation in a fortified cask lent red fruit and a soft spice. 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. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At its natural 57.9% it is concentrated. A smoky, briny coastal character, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.