USA SHIPPING FROM $28
EU SHIPPING FROM €16
$167
The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage’s Caol Ila, an 8 year old, 2007, at 46%. The peat here is bright and lemony over an oily, maritime body. Its casks mature within sound of the sea. Water comes from Loch nam Ban, above the distillery. It is the most independently bottled of all the Islay malts. This is a bright, coastal Islay malt of poise.
Only 2 left in stock
Description
An 8 year old Caol Ila from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 315325, bottled at 46%, one of 320 bottles. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.
This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the oak lending vanilla and a little cream. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted hemicellulose sugars (a light caramel) fast, the phenols still sharp and medicinal. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke.
At an easy 46% it is gentle. Sea spray, smoke and a citrus lift, with a creamy oak note. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.
Additional information
$99
$123
$113
$105
$102