Distillery Info
Caol Ila typically produce one of Islay's more elegant peated expressions, less reliant on the visceral smokiness of the island's precious peats, more so on the manifold richness of evolved and effusive barley sugar complexity.
To the surprise of many enthusiasts, the distillery also bottle an unpeated expression which was initially produced for the blended market. Although in limited quantities, a stand-alone 8-year-old expression surfaced in 2006, which has progressively worked its way in age to the current 18-year-old (2017).
This particular expression has been matured for fifteen years in American oak without a hint of peatyness. Its apricot florals and chewy pectins are underpinned by briny breezes of prevailing maritime savouriness. These bottlings remain a genuine jaw-dropper for those with the pre-conceived notion that Islay can only do peat.
