Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2009 Cask #314666 + 314667 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage released this Caol Ila, an 8 year old, distilled in 2009, from cask 314666 + 314667, bottled at 46%. Caol Ila has been bottled at every age from young and fierce to old and waxy. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

It was worked from peated barley through the distillery's tall stills, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla and a light sweetness under the smoke. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. Ashy smoke, lemon oil and a saline tang, with honeyed oak underneath. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.