Caol Ila Father’s Day UD (UD – bottler)

A Caol Ila chosen by the bottler UD - bottler, bottled at 55%. Caol Ila is an Islay malt of clean, oily, citrus driven smoke. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

It was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Without an age statement, soft vanillin sweetness and a waxy, smoky body suggest a good few years in oak. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat.

At 55% without water it is rich and full. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.