Caol Ila

Translation: Sound (strait) of Islay

Region: Islay

The inner values are important.

It has to be said so clearly: Caol Ila is not visually one of the gems of the whiskey world. Founded in 1846, the distillery was renovated in the 1970s - and that's what it looks like ever since. But first, the view from the distillery is a dream: You can see through the windows of the Still House directly over the Islay Sound on the neighboring island of Jura with its impressive mountain peaks "Paps of Jura". In addition, it is well known that the inner values. And what is created here in the large copper stills of Caol Ila, is one of the most beautiful, what you can have in the glass.

A little history

Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson in a picturesque bay on Islay's east coast, right on Islay Sound, just north of Port Askaig.
Just nine years later, the distillery went to Norman Buchanan and changed hands several times in the following decades.
From 1930 to 1937 and from 1941 to 1945, Caol Ila, then owned by the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), was decommissioned.
Between April 1972 and January 1974, the distillery was completely renovated, during this time was not produced. The number of stills grew from two to six.
There were no official bottlings of Caol Ila for a long time. Since 1988, original bottlings of single malts are available again. Since 2006, Caol Ila belongs to the "Classic Malt" series by Diageo - as the second representative of Islay next to Lagavulin.

What do I actually have in the glass?

If you like Ardbeg and Lagavulin you will love Caol Ila as well. Clear Islay character with all that goes with it: peat, smoke, spiciness, fullness. Maybe a bit finer and more fruity than Lagavulin.

3 reasons to love Caol Ila

1) Because the malt just earned it.
2) Because the seals here smile so friendly.
3) Because you should never go outside.

The one drama for the lonely island

The "Old Malt Cask" bottlings from Hunter Laing with 50% are a dream of an Islay Malt.

numbers and facts

Address: Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, Argyll, PA46 7RP
Founded: 1846 by Hector Henderson
Status: active
Owner: Diageo
Capacity: approx. 6,500,000 liters
3 wash stills (35.345 l)
3 spirit stills (29,549 l)
Water: Loch nam Ban
Visitor Center: Yes
Phone: +44 (0) 1496/302760
Website: www.malts.com