Caol Ila The Distillers Edition 12 Years Old 2006

This 12 year old Caol Ila comes from the distillery itself, from 2006, at 43%. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

This was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with grape, honey and a floral lift from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.