Caol Ila 8 Years Old 1990 Cask #2405 – 09 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Caol Ila, an 8 year old, distilled in 1990, from cask 2405-09, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

Here the spirit was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. An American oak cask shaped it, soft and sweet beneath the peat. In these extractive early years the oak surrenders vanillin as vanilla and cis oak lactones as coconut, while guaiacol carries a vivid, lemony peat smoke. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character.

At 43% it is smooth and clean. Sea spray, smoke and a citrus lift, with vanilla and a soft caramel from the wood. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.