Signatory Vintage Caol Ila 2012

From two absolute Scottish whisky legends – the Caol Ila distillery in Port Askaig and independent Bottler Signatory Vintage, this month a classic 11-year-old non-chill-filtered Islay spirit/bourbon single malt for the ages – From their ‘Un-Chillfitered Collection’ – The Signatory Vintage Caol Ila 2012!

The Signatory Vintage Caol Ila 2012 is distilled in the Caol Ila distillery in Port Askaig, Islay. It is a blend of 5 ex-bourbon hogsheads, all laid down together in June 2012 and bottled (without chill-filtering) in July 2023 giving an 11 year old, sublimely peated whisky.

Signatory Vintage is recognized as one of the world’s leading independent bottling labels. Their ‘Un-Chill Filtered Collection’ is particularly notable for its dedication to preserving the natural flavours and characteristics of whisky by avoiding chill filtration, a common process in the whisky industry.

Chill filtration is used by many whisky producers to remove compounds that can cause cloudiness or haziness when the whisky is chilled or diluted with water. While this method improves the visual clarity of the whisky, it also strips away some of the flavour and texture components that enhance the overall drinking experience.

In contrast, the Signatory Vintage Un-chill Filtered Range skips chill filtration, allowing the whiskies to retain their full flavour profile and mouthfeel. This approach results in whiskies that may exhibit greater depth, richness, and complexity, as well as a more robust texture on the palate.

Nose: Sometimes the nose is gloriously all about the peat. And this is one of those times. Lovely tarry notes, kelp-ey iodone and campfires a-plenty. But there’s a lovely salted toffee note there too which both subdues and yet also ‘pops’ the peaty notes.

Palate: This is remarkably tame on the palate. Beautiful crisp and clean spirit, with lovely integration of the alcohol at this abv, with no spiky edges at all! And yet there’s certainly no lack of flavour here; lovely vanilla and citrus pie notes and a surprising jube-lolly burst as well. And of course more of those lovely peaty notes, and let’s be honest… that’s why we’re here, isn’t it!

Finish: Caol Ila never fails to deliver a fantastic finish. It’s one of the things that really defines this distillery for me. And this is no exception. Smokey, tarry, salty and sweet and just so persistent and delicious on the palate it’ll stifle conversation (until someone says ‘can I have another’? !

This is one of those ‘classic’ whisky combinations. Caol Ila aged in ex-bourbon casks. No complicated finishing program, no ‘weird’ oaks, no ‘left field’ flavour profiles. Just classic, clean, and most definitely peated Caol Ila spirit in best quality American oak. Sometimes a ‘classic’ just hits the spot. And this is very much one of those whiskies.