Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2010 Cask #2 (Signatory)

A 10 year old Caol Ila from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 2, bottled at 57.7%, one of 303 bottles. Caol Ila is a maritime malt, matured within sound of the sea. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

It was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A wine cask shaped it, the fruit meeting the spirit. Through integration the spirit and cask settle, lactone coconut and a soft vanillin balancing the easing phenols. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. The spirit's lightness lets sherry, wine and bourbon casks all show through. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily.

At a hearty 57.7% it carries real weight. Peat, smoked fish and a citrus oil, with honey and apricot from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.