Caol Ila Batch 12 (TBWC)

A Caol Ila drawn by the bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company, bottled at 48.1%, one of 1489 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

This was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. Years in ex-Bourbon wood lent a soft vanilla and a coastal calm. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

At cask strength 48.1% it is muscular. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a creamy oak note. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.