Caol Ila Available only at the Distillery

Caol Ila from the distillery, at 58.4%, 4000 bottles in all. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

The spirit was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A wine cask held it, layering berry fruit over the malt. Carrying no age, the cask shows vanillin (vanilla) and a coconut from oak lactones, the phenols lending a clean medicinal smoke. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy.

At 58.4% without water it is rich and full. Wood smoke, lemon zest and brine, with a spiced, dried fruit edge from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.