Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2009 Cask #317885 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage selected this Caol Ila, an 11 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 317885, bottled at 46%, one of 849 bottles. Caol Ila is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

This was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the make. Through the integration phase spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into a rounded vanilla as the guaiacol phenols mellow into a softer smoke. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. Phenols from the peat smoke carry the medicinal, lemony edge through the years.

At 46% it is smooth and clean. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.