Caol Ila 10 Years Old 2013 Small Batch Edition #4 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Caol Ila, a 10 year old, distilled in 2013, bottled at 48.2%. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

The spirit was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, for the light, maritime smoke Caol Ila is known for. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness beneath the smoke. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke.

Undiluted at 48.2%, it is powerful. A lemony Islay smoke over olive oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is a clean coastal malt with a lemony peat.