Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2008 Cask #307201 (Signatory)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 9 year old, distilled in 2008, from cask 307201, bottled at 46%, one of 316 bottles. Caol Ila stands below a steep brae on Islay's rugged east shore. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends.

Distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, giving a clean, lemony peat. An ex-Bourbon barrel gave a gentle sweetness and a creamy edge. 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. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy.

At 46% it is soft, oily and bright. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is an elegant Islay single malt.