Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2011 Cask #317187 + 317214 (Signatory)

A 9 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2011 from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, from cask 317187 + 317214, bottled at 46%, one of 487 bottles. Caol Ila is an east coast Islay distillery on the strait facing Jura. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

Distilled slowly from peated malt for a refined island smoke, building a refined, maritime peat. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. 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. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Smoke, lemon and a peppery oil, with honeyed oak underneath. The palate is oily and smoky, with a green citrus lift. A long, briny finish ends on lemon and soft smoke. This is a lemony, coastal Islay single malt.