Caol Ila Creosote & Candied Fruits (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd.)

The bottler The Vintage Malt Whisky Co Ltd released this Caol Ila, from cask 310123, bottled at 54.5%, one of 360 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. With no age statement, the oak has given up its vanillin as vanilla and its oak lactones as coconut, set against the lemony guaiacol of the peat smoke. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.5%, it is intense. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with raisin and a caramelised nuttiness from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.