Caol Ila 13 Years Old 2009 Cask #321158 (Signatory)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 13 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 321158, bottled at 58.3%, one of 278 bottles. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

Here the spirit was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations. Maturation by the sea gives the malt its mineral, sea spray character.

At a hearty 58.3% it carries real weight. A coastal peat with citrus and pepper, with a light bourbon sweetness. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. The finish is long, smoky and citrussy. This is one of the most versatile of the Islay malts.