Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2010 Cask #316629 (Signatory)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 10 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2010, from cask 316629, bottled at 58.2%, one of 638 bottles. Caol Ila is the most heavily bottled of all the Islay malts. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

Made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. By the integrating teens harsher congeners fade and ethyl esters build, lending a riper citrus over the softening peat. A gentle vanillin sweetness from the oak balances the coastal phenols. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At its natural 58.2% it is concentrated. A smoky, briny coastal character, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is the elegant, lighter side of Islay.