Caol Ila 11 Years Old 1991 The Flagon (Signatory)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, an 11 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 1991, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Here the spirit was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, shaping the lighter side of Islay. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

At 43% it is clean and coastal. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.