Signatory Vintage Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 Cask #107 750ml

Caol Ila is a genuine study in contradictions — it's the largest of Islay's eight active distilleries by capacity, yet the vast majority of its output disappears directly into blends, most notably Johnnie Walker Black Label, the world's second best-selling blended Scotch. Whisky Advocate has gone so far as to nickname the distillery "Mr. Consistent," a nod to how rarely a poor cask or bottling emerges from Port Askaig. Less than 5% of Caol Ila's production is ever set aside for official single malt bottling by owner Diageo — but a genuine quirk of the Scotch whisky trade, where distilleries regularly swap casks to build blending complexity, has made Caol Ila the most widely available Islay single malt through independent bottlers like Signatory Vintage.

This particular cask, #107, was distilled in October 2010 and initially matured in refill hogsheads before undergoing a 15-month finishing period in fresh sherry butts — a genuinely deliberate two-stage maturation that layers real sherry-driven richness onto Caol Ila's naturally smoky, maritime spirit. Bottled at cask strength, 57.2% ABV, entirely without chill filtration or added colour, this is a full-bodied, fully flavoured expression of the distillery at 11 years old.

Finedrams' official tasting notes describe "a smoky, sweet and spicy dram with notes of charred oak, grassy peat smoke, a slight mineral edge, sea spray, tobacco smoke, prunes, raisins, cloves, cinnamon, cherries, toasted malt, nuts, dark chocolate and honey." For broader house-style context on Signatory's Caol Ila 2010 releases more generally, More Drams Less Drama's independent tasting of a related cask found "bonfire smoke, drying kelp and driftwood" intertwining "gracefully with rich and elegant sherry notes of dried figs, strawberry jam, leather armchairs and a touch of orange marmalade," with "the alcohol" remaining "well integrated" despite the considerable strength. Whiskybase's community reviews of another related sherry-finished 2010 Caol Ila found "subtle notes of sherry with chocolate raisins, dates, plums combined with smoke and tobacco — delicious," concluding "price-performance ratio fits — typically Signatory Vintage. A good recommendation." This is genuinely serious, sherry-finished Islay whisky — a real showcase of how well Caol Ila's smoky character can absorb rich fortified wine influence without ever losing its own maritime identity.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Signatory Vintage Caol Ila 11 Year Old is sourced from Caol Ila Distillery, located in Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay, Scotland — the largest of Islay's eight active distilleries, though the vast majority of its production is destined for blended Scotch whisky, including Johnnie Walker Black Label. This single cask, #107, was distilled in October 2010 and initially matured in refill hogsheads, before undergoing a 15-month finishing period in fresh sherry butts.

The whisky is bottled by Signatory Vintage, one of the largest and longest-running independent bottlers in Scotland, as part of their Cask Strength range. Bottled without chill filtration or added colour, at cask strength — 57.2% ABV / 114.4 proof.

Critics Reviews

No independent critic reviews are confirmed specifically for Cask #107 at this time. For genuine house-style context, related Signatory Caol Ila 2010 sherry-finished casks have received the following coverage:

More Drams, Less Drama (extended independent review, related cask):
"Bonfire smoke, drying kelp and driftwood intertwine gracefully with rich and elegant sherry notes of dried figs, strawberry jam, leather armchairs and a touch of orange marmalade. The alcohol is well integrated and at no time your nostrils are in danger from the ABV."

Whiskybase community (related cask):
"A typical Caol Ila nose — peat, smoked meat and sherry. Fairly well balanced. On the tongue are subtle notes of sherry with chocolate raisins, dates, plums combined with smoke and tobacco — delicious. The finish with notes of sherry and dark chocolate is long and smoky with some sweet elements. Price-performance ratio fits — typically Signatory Vintage. A good recommendation."

Finedrams (official tasting note, Cask #107):
"A peaty sherried monster from Caol Ila distillery and Signatory Vintage's Cask Strength range. The result is a smoky, sweet and spicy dram with notes of charred oak, grassy peat smoke, a slight mineral edge, sea spray, tobacco smoke, prunes, raisins, cloves, cinnamon, cherries, toasted malt, nuts, dark chocolate and honey. Bottled at fiery cask strength, and without chill filtration or colouration, this is a full bodied and fully flavoured whisky."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Charred oak and grassy peat smoke lead, joined by a slight mineral edge, sea spray, and tobacco smoke, alongside prune, raisin, and toasted malt.

Palate
Smoky, sweet, and spicy, with cloves, cinnamon, and cherry carrying the entry, developing into dark chocolate, nuts, and honey, all layered over the sherry butt's rich, dried-fruit character.

Finish
Long and smoky, closing with lingering sherry sweetness, dark chocolate, and spice — genuinely full-bodied and fully flavoured, reflecting both the cask's dual maturation and its natural cask strength.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Smoked salmon or seafood
• Dark chocolate desserts
• Aged, salty cheeses
• Dried fruit and nut boards

Serving Note

Enjoy neat in a Glencairn glass to appreciate the full interplay of peat smoke and sherry richness; a few drops of water can help open additional layers.