Caol Ila 11 years old (D.2010, B.2022) Signatory Vintage / 43% / 0.7l
- Caol Ila, founded 1846, is now the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay with the capacity of 6.5 million liters of spirit per annum, more than Laphroaig, Bowmore and Ardbeg combined.
Product description
Built in 1846, Caol Ila is now the largest distillery on Islay, and an expansion in 2011 raised its production capacity to 6.5 million litres per year, equivalent to the combined capacity of Laphroaig, Bowmore and Ardbeg.
Although it ranks fairly low in the sales statistics of island malts, its popularity is growing, thanks in part to independent publishers (the brand’s annual sales remain at 600,000 bottles). The Signatory Vintage edition presented here was distilled on 13 December 2010, aged for 11 years in two hogshead casks (nos. 324045 and 324053) and bottled at 43% abv on 7 February 2022.
Nose: barley malt, peat smoke and ash, salted peanuts, vanilla, caramel, lemon peel, white pepper, notes of hay and oak.
Palate : peat smoke, salted caramel, vanilla, stewed apples, lemon peel, lemongrass, white pepper, traces of green olives and oak.
Finish: medium long, with notes of peat smoke, sea breeze, smoked fish, lemon peel, pepper and oak.