Caol Ila 9 Years Old 2012 Cask #327599 + 327600 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage selected this Caol Ila, a 9 year old, distilled in 2012, from cask 327599 + 327600, bottled at 46%. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

This was run from peated malt through tall stills on Loch nam Ban water, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A long spell in ex-Bourbon oak rounded the spirit gently. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and oak lactones a coconut sweetness, the guaiacol smoke bright and fresh. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The make balances phenolic smoke against a bright, oily citrus. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

At 46% it is clean and coastal. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with honeyed oak underneath. The oily body carries the smoke long and clean. Ash, lemon and brine draw out the close. This is a clean, smoky Islay single malt from Caol Ila.