Caol Ila 18 Years Old 2007 Cask #1 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Caol Ila, an 18 year old, distilled in 2007, from cask 1, bottled at 58.1%, one of 657 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

Here the spirit was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. In the oxidative middle years the spirit deepens, oxidation drawing out waxy fruit as the guaiacol smoke fades to embers. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character.

At cask strength 58.1% it is muscular. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.