Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #321154 (Signatory)

A Caol Ila drawn by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2009, from cask 321154, bottled at 58.9%, one of 287 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

Here the spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy.

At its natural 58.9% it is concentrated. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with a touch of vanilla and toffee. It is clean and coastal, the peat and lemon to the fore. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.