Caol Ila 31 Years Old 1983 Cask #5300 (Signatory)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 31 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 1983, from cask 5300, bottled at 48.7%, one of 248 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

This was drawn off a high cut from peated barley, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. Refill American oak let the spirit speak, adding a quiet honeyed note. At an ethereal, fragile age the spirit turns delicate, sotolon lending a maple and old oak depth as beeswax and a ghost of smoke linger. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland. The clean spirit shows the cask clearly, which is why it suits so many wood types.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.7%, it is intense. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. This is an Islay malt that wears its smoke lightly.