Caol Ila 11 Years Old 2010 Cask #111 (Signatory)

Cask Strength Collection

700ml / 57.2%

Single Malt

$195

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage’s Caol Ila, an 11 year old, 2010, at 57.2%. Smoke, sea spray and an oily lemon fill the glass, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is Diageo’s largest Islay distillery by some way. Most of its make goes into the Johnnie Walker blends. This is a refined Islay single malt that wears its style lightly.

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SKU CIL882 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

A Caol Ila drawn by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2010, from cask 111, bottled at 57.2%, one of 663 bottles. Caol Ila sends more spirit to independent bottlers than almost any malt. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

It was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, for an oily smoke that leans to lemon and brine. A sherry cask wrapped the spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. 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.

At a natural 57.2% it is full and oily. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is an elegant Islay single malt.