Caol Ila 7 Years Old 2013 Cask #326941 + 326942 (Signatory)

A 7 year old Caol Ila from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 326941 + 326942, bottled at 40%, one of 915 bottles. Caol Ila is among the most widely traded of Islay's single malts. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay.

It was drawn off the distillery's six tall stills from peated barley, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. First fill bourbon gave it a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut. Early, extractive maturation draws vanillin (vanilla) and furfural (toasted almond) from the wood over a clean, phenolic smoke. The lighter style means the cask and the citrus speak alongside the peat. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At 40% it is supple and oily. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with honeyed oak underneath. Smoked lemon and sea salt build over an oily body. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is Caol Ila's lighter, maritime Islay smoke.