Caol Ila Feis Ile 2009 13 Years Old 1996

Caol Ila from the distillery, a 13 year old, from 1996, cask 19313, at 58%, 654 bottles in all. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

Here the spirit was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. 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. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays.

At a full 58% it is bold and oily. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.