Caol Ila 16 Years Old 2007 Cask #7 (Signatory)

A 16 year old Caol Ila from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 7, bottled at 58.4%, one of 682 bottles. Caol Ila was rebuilt in the 1970s into the large distillery it is today. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura.

The spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. A first fill sherry cask drove a deep, figgy, nutty character. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed and ellagitannin tannins lend a polished, drying frame to the smoke. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

At a hearty 58.4% it carries real weight. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.