Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2011 Cask #11 (Signatory)

A Caol Ila drawn by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2011, from cask 11, bottled at 46%, one of 409 bottles. Caol Ila has distilled at Port Askaig since the middle of the 19th century. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland.

This was run through tall copper stills that keep the smoke light, for a smoke more elegant than heavy. A wine cask shaped it, the fruit meeting the spirit. In these extractive early years the oak surrenders vanillin as vanilla and cis oak lactones as coconut, while guaiacol carries a vivid, lemony peat smoke. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Olive oil and lemon sit at the heart of the Caol Ila character. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine.

At 46% it is soft, oily and bright. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with a light bourbon sweetness. Beneath the smoke run lemon, brine and a peppery oil. A smoky, oily warmth lingers with lemon and salt. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.