Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2015 Cask #EXP1084 (Claxton’s)

From the bottler Claxton's, a 9 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2015, from cask EXP1084, bottled at 50%. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for a clean, coastal, oily make. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness beneath the smoke. These first years are extractive, the oak giving lactones as coconut and vanillin as vanilla beneath a sharp, citrussy smoke. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way.

At a natural 50% it is full and oily. A smoky, briny coastal character, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.