Caol Ila Moch

Caol Ila from the distillery, at 43%. Caol Ila is the smoky backbone of the Johnnie Walker blends. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

Made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for a clean, coastal, oily make. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. Without an age statement, soft vanillin sweetness and a waxy, smoky body suggest a good few years in oak. 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. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily.

At 43% it is clean and coastal. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.