Caol Ila Feis Ile 2019 28 Years Old 1990

A 28 year old Caol Ila bottled by the distillery, from 1990, cask 9373-69, at 55.3%, 180 bottles in all. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

The spirit was distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, shaping the lighter side of Islay. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. Oxidative and evaporative ageing turns the malt rich and waxy, ethereal esters and a faint sotolon (maple) over the softened smoke. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit.

At a natural 55.3% it is full and oily. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.