Caol Ila 15 Years Old 2007 Cask #204 (Signatory)

Cask Strength Collection

700ml / 53.7%

Single Malt

$242

Caol Ila of a 15 year old from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, 2007, at 53.7%. A lighter Islay smoke, all lemon, brine and a peppery oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is Diageo’s largest Islay distillery by some way. The spirit is matured largely on the mainland. This is a clean, maritime malt from the Sound of Islay.

In stock

Available

SKU CIL829 Categories Caol Ila, Islay, Scottish Whisky, Whiskey Brand: Caol Ila

Description

A Caol Ila of a 15 year old chosen by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2007, from cask 204, bottled at 53.7%, one of 695 bottles. Caol Ila takes its name from the Gaelic for the Sound of Islay. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

Distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness beneath the smoke. In the oxidative middle years the spirit deepens, oxidation drawing out waxy fruit as the guaiacol smoke fades to embers. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. Time in oak deepens the oily body while the maritime smoke stays bright.

At cask strength 53.7% it is muscular. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.