Caol Ila 21 Years Old 1981 Cask #451 (Signatory)

A 21 year old Caol Ila from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 451, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Oxidative maturity brings a waxy, fruity depth, ethyl esters of orchard fruit building as the peat turns gentle and coastal. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The spirit's high notes of lemon and grass survive even long maturation. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Bottled at 43%, it is rounded. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. The smoke fades slow over citrus and a mineral tang. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.