Pillage 2007

Pillage 2007 is a blended malt Scotch from an independent bottler. It vats single malts from several distilleries, with Caol Ila for Islay smoke. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Caol Ila's elegant smoke gives the blend its coastal, citrus edge. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. Long fermentations build the fruity, citrus notes that sit beneath the smoke. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

Bottled at a cask strength 51.6%, it is intense. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.