Caol Ila 15 Years Old 1984 Cask #5732-5733 (Signatory)

This Caol Ila was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 15 year old, distilled in 1984, from cask 5732-5733, bottled at 43%, one of 540 bottles. Caol Ila makes a clean, maritime malt on the east coast of Islay. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

The spirit was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. Oxidative maturity brings a waxy, fruity depth, ethyl esters of orchard fruit building as the peat turns gentle and coastal. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore.

At 43% it is smooth and clean. Sea spray, smoke and a citrus lift, with a gentle oak sweetness beneath. An oily smoke coats the palate, citrus and brine behind. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.