Caol Ila Natural Cask Strength

Caol Ila from the distillery, at 59.3%. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit.

This was distilled with a long fermentation and a clean cut, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. Without an age statement, soft vanillin sweetness and a waxy, smoky body suggest a good few years in oak. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols.

At cask strength 59.3% it is muscular. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a clean Islay smoke from the island's largest distillery.