Caol Ila 6 Years Old 2013 Cask #325560 (Signatory)

A Caol Ila of a 6 year old chosen by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2013, from cask 325560, bottled at 46%, one of 362 bottles. Caol Ila was rebuilt in the 1970s into the large distillery it is today. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

This was worked from peated malt for the lighter Islay style, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A tired refill cask added little but time, the make speaking clearly. In its extractive youth the spirit takes vanillin vanilla and lactone coconut quickly, the peat phenols vivid and lemony. The oily texture comes from the spirit cut, the cask adding depth around it. The six tall stills sit behind picture windows looking out to Jura. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At 46% it is smooth and clean. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with a light vanilla and a touch of coconut. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. The close is long, smoke over a citrus lift. This is a maritime, lemony Islay single malt.