Caol Ila 13 Years Old 1991 Cask #03/731/1 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage selected this Caol Ila, a 13 year old, distilled in 1991, from cask 03/731/1, bottled at 46%, one of 867 bottles. Caol Ila takes its name from the Gaelic for the Sound of Islay. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

It was distilled from medium peated malt in tall copper stills, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. A fortified or wine cask gave it a fruity, spiced depth. Integration sees eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) fold into the spirit, the medicinal smoke gentler now. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. Most of its peated malt is destined for the Johnnie Walker blends. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with plum and red berry from the cask. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is an elegant Islay single malt.