Caol Ila 19 Years Old 1974 Cask #12566 (Signatory)

A 19 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 1974 from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 12566, bottled at 61.1%, one of 380 bottles. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness.

Here the spirit was made from medium peated malt for a clean, smoky spirit, giving a bright, citrus driven peat. Years in ex-Bourbon wood lent a soft vanilla and a coastal calm. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed and ellagitannin tannins lend a polished, drying frame to the smoke. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy.

At cask strength 61.1% it is muscular. A bonfire smoke with lemon and sea salt, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.