Caol Ila – 9 Year Old 2013 Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection (70cl, 55%)

This is a nine year old Islay single malt from Caol Ila, bottled by Signatory Vintage in its Cask Strength Collection. It was distilled on 15 May 2013 and bottled on 4 August 2022 at 55% ABV. The whisky matured in a single first fill sherry butt, number 104, which yielded 696 bottles. Caol Ila is usually matured in bourbon casks or hogsheads, so a sherry butt bottling stands apart from the distillery's more familiar style. The oxidative sherry character comes first, then peat takes over. Over time the peat turns medicinal, meaty, smoky and rooty.