Caol Ila 7 Years Old 2010 Cask #318693 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage released this Caol Ila, a 7 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 318693, bottled at 60.2%, one of 294 bottles. Caol Ila sits on the shore at Port Askaig, on the narrow Sound of Islay. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila.

Distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, building a refined, maritime peat. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the distillery character to the fore. These first years are extractive, the oak giving lactones as coconut and vanillin as vanilla beneath a sharp, citrussy smoke. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Active wood frames the smoke without smothering the citrus beneath.

At its natural 60.2% it is concentrated. A clean ashy smoke with lime and brine, with vanilla and a honeyed edge from the cask. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.