Caol Ila like this doesn’t come around often. Finished for 21 months in a red Burgundy wine cask, this 9 year old single malt from Signatory Vintage fuses fire and finesse in unexpected harmony. It’s Islay smoke with a vinous twist, bold, briny, and elegantly wild.

Signatory Vintage – Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 (Burgundy Cask Finish)
Brand: Caol Ila (Signatory Vintage) | Category: Single Malt | ABV: Varies by bottling | Origin: Islay, Scotland | Vol: 700ml
Cask Type: Burgundy Red Wine Cask Finish (21 Months) | Limited Single Cask Edition

Tasting Profile
Nose: Earthy peat smoke wrapped in red berries and damp oak. A touch of cured meat and dark cherry, like Islay meets Pinot Noir.
Palate: Ashy, peppered, and juicy. Flavors of grilled plum, raspberry reduction, and sea salt swirl together, balanced by smoked herbs and dry spice.
Finish: Long, structured, and gripping. The smoke fades into tart cherry skin, wine tannins, and a touch of brine.

Production Details
Distilled in 2011 and matured with a 21-month finish in a red Burgundy cask, this Caol Ila is part of Signatory’s daring “Single Cask Finish” series. Bottled with no chill filtration and typically at natural strength, it offers complexity and character in every sip.

Perfect For
Peated whisky fans looking for something that breaks the mold, a collector’s pour, an evening conversation starter, or a whisky tasting lineup twist.

Expert Notes
This cask finish adds surprising structure and fruit to Caol Ila’s clean smoke. Burgundy casks are notoriously hard to balance, but here they add tension and texture, a layered dram for experienced palates.

Customer Reviews
“Like peated Pinot Noir, smoky, tart, and full of surprises.”   Theo, BGC
“Totally unique. Red wine and peat? It works, brilliantly.”   Sarah, QC
“One of the most complex young Caol Ilas I’ve tasted.”   Jared, Makati

Interesting Fact
Red Burgundy is made from Pinot Noir grapes, known for elegance and earthy minerality. That subtlety adds unexpected depth to Caol Ila’s briny, peated core.

Serving Suggestions
Sip neat to explore the full smoke and fruit interplay. Add a few drops of water to reveal darker fruit and spice. Excellent with grilled lamb or aged Manchego.

Distillery Background
Caol Ila is the quiet powerhouse of Islay, producing a smoky, maritime malt that’s often reserved for blends. But in single cask form, especially with unique finishes like this, it reveals its hidden complexity and bold independence.