Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Sa Coilltean Int. Co. LTD (Samaroli)

Caol Ila, from the Italian bottler Samaroli, bottled at 43%, one of 1380 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. With no age statement, the oak has given up its vanillin as vanilla and its oak lactones as coconut, set against the lemony guaiacol of the peat smoke. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with a creamy oak note. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.