Fresh, sweetly fruity and smooth-bodied, Caol Ila 12 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky delicately balances a range of tastes. The clean, appetising nose shows subtle citrus fruit with just a puff of smoke. Firm and smooth, it begins sweetly then yields a fragrant smokiness and a sweet-smoky, lingering finish.

Nestled in a hidden cove near Port Askaig, Islay, the Caol Ila (pronounced Cull Eela) distillery sent its whisky to market by sea for over a hundred years. Caol Ila is the Gaelic name for the Sound of Islay, which separates the island from Jura in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of Scotland's West Coast. The distillery was founded in 1846 and is situated on the shores of the Sound, a spot originally chosen partly because of the clean water from Loch Nam Ban which still provides its main supply. The nose is creamy and lemony, before a silky-smooth medium-bodied palate packs a peaty punch. The finish is dry, sooty and very more-ish. Caol Ilas trademark smoky-antiseptic character is here. Gaelic for dawn, Caol Ila Moch is the first single malt from the distillery to be selected entirely on the basis of its taste, rather than age, cask wood, strength or finish. This single malt is an excellent introduction to peaty Islay whiskies.

A gentler, more feminine and food friendly expression that Islay lovers should get to know. Despite being the largest distillery on Islay (in terms of production anyway), nearly all of Caol Ila's output ends up in blends, so much so that until 2002 when the 12-year-old was released, independent bottlings were the only recourse for malt hunters. The distillery's gently fruity-smoky style sets it apart and comes down to the production process: "...although it receives the same spec of malt as sister distillery Lagavulin, Caol Ila’s distillation regime – longer fermentation, higher cut point, taller stills, helps to reduce the heavy phenols." Tasting note: Pale straw colour with a subtle green blush. Aromas of soft, sweet peat - smoked trout, a hint of lanolin and some baked citrus. Rounded, pure and impeccably clean from start to finish, the palate offers semi-sweet smoky-fruity-oily flavours counterpointed by super fine tannins. Perfect balance. Finishes long with salt, smoked fish and light lanolin through the fade. A gentler, more feminine and food friendly expression that Islay lovers should get to know. 43%Alc./Vol.