This 9 year old Caol Ila from Signatory Vintage isn’t your usual Islay dram. Finished for 21 months in a Sauternes sweet wine cask, it’s a rare mash-up of maritime smoke and dessert wine elegance. Sweet, smoky, and totally unexpected, this single cask release walks the line between contradiction and brilliance.

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

Tasting Profile
Nose: Smoked peaches, sea spray, and honey drizzled charcuterie. A sweet wisp of ash blends with lemon zest and wildflowers.
Palate: Waxy, textured, and multidimensional. Initial peat smoke gives way to white grape, honeycomb, grilled apricot, and a light saline edge.
Finish: Lingering, layered, and seductive. Peat smoke and sweet spice intertwine, fading into a honeyed, salty breeze.

Production Details
Distilled in 2011 and aged for nearly a decade, with the final 21 months spent in a French Sauternes cask. Bottled as part of Signatory’s Single Cask Finish series, this expression is non-chill filtered, typically cask strength, and entirely unique in flavor structure.

Perfect For
Connoisseurs looking for smoke with sophistication. This dram shines in quiet contemplation, post-dinner pours, or blind tastings where it steals the show.

Expert Notes
Sauternes casks aren’t common in Islay releases but in the right hands, they create magic. The result here is elegant peat cut by golden fruit sweetness. Unexpected, unrepeatable, and unforgettable.

Customer Reviews
“Sweet and smoky in perfect sync. One of the best Caol Ilas I’ve tried.”   Jonas, Makati
“Dessert wine meets coastal fire, it works shockingly well.”   Erin, Pasay
“Big flavor, small batch, total sleeper hit.”   Lucas, QC

Interesting Fact
Sauternes casks, traditionally used for Bordeaux’s prized dessert wines, impart notes of honey, apricot, and rich white fruit. When paired with Caol Ila’s clean Islay smoke, it creates a dram that’s both harmonious and daring.

Serving Suggestions
Neat for maximum contrast between smoke and sweetness. Add a drop or two of water to draw out the fruit and floral layers. Pair with a charred peach salad or blue cheese for an elevated tasting experience.

Distillery Background
Caol Ila, perched on Islay’s rugged eastern coast, is known for its clean, briny, and slightly medicinal peat character. While often overlooked in favor of heavier Islay malts, it’s a cult favorite for those who know elegance can still carry fire.