Caol Ila Bonfires & Blackberries (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

The bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd released this Caol Ila, from cask 6677, bottled at 43.5%, one of 474 bottles. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

This was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, building a refined, maritime peat. An unusual cask gave the spirit a distinctive, fruity twist. No age is given, but vanillin vanilla and the lemony phenols of the smoke are well knit. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke.

At 43.5% it is supple and oily. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with plum and red berry from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.