Caol Ila 14 Years Old 2007 The Culprit Chess Investigation Series (Signatory)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 14 year old, distilled in 2007, bottled at 46%, one of 891 bottles. Caol Ila is prized for a smoke that leans to lemon and olive oil rather than tar. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

It was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. In integration the oak lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) knit with the phenols, the whole growing rounder and oilier. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily.

At 46% it is supple and oily. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is an elegant Islay single malt.