Caol Ila UnchillFiltered Signatory 2000

Standard Caol Ila and Islay. This is maturated for 11 years in two bourbon casks then vatted together to get around 600 bottles. Some of the time, like in the Connoisseur's Choice bottles from Gordon and MacPhail, you'll be seeing Caol Ila in refill Sherry casks. The Sherry wood seems to temper the peat slightly. Here, the Bourbon cask amplifies the smoke and peat reek. It's Caol Ila but revved up. The oils are there but the grassy notes are more subdued. The casks really clean out the spirit and make it very clinical and medicinal at the same time. It's got a killer instinct this one. A one directional force du jour. The nose is all smoke with salt and a touch of scorched wood. The taste kicks off initially sweet then the spice arrives later and then the smoke after that wafts quite forcibly through the whole lot. The finish is that smoke amplified, tar and bitter, almost sailing rope. The scorched wood, like aroma you get in a sauna is one of the over-riding themes.