Caol Ila Cl4 SMS Elements of Islay (Speciality Drinks Ltd)

The bottler Speciality Drinks Ltd released this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 1999, bottled at 58.7%. Caol Ila is the quiet giant of Islay, vast yet refined. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

This was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, giving a clean, lemony peat. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding only a light vanilla. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

At a full 58.7% it is bold and oily. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.