Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2015 Cask #DL18765 (Old Particular)

The Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing selected this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 2015, from cask DL18765, bottled at 57.4%, one of 296 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

Here the spirit was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A fortified or wine cask gave it a fruity, spiced depth. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types.

At a natural 57.4% it is full and oily. A clean maritime smoke with lemon and brine, with plum and red berry from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is an elegant Islay single malt.