Caol Ila
Founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson in a picturesque bay on the Sound of Islay, the rather plain-looking Caol Ila distillery offers one of the finest views in the entire whisky world: straight across the sound to the striking peaks of the Paps of Jura. Despite being the largest distillery on the island, it remains understated.
Caol Ila stands for a classic, bold Islay style with peat, smoke, and spice – somewhat finer and fruitier than its neighbour Lagavulin. From the Caol Ila 12 Year Old to the more mature 18 Year Old, you will find the right bottle for every occasion in our selection.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€57.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Code: PFINGSTEN26
Content: 0.7 Liter (€337.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€57.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.04 Liter (€149.75 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€74.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€92.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€61.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€59.99 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€131.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€115.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€182.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€2,394.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€115.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€188.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€2,394.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€81.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€64.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€75.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Why were there no official Caol Ila bottlings for so long?
Hector Henderson founded Caol Ila in 1846 north of Port Askaig, right on the Sound of Islay – hence the name, Gaelic for "Sound of Islay". As early as 1855, the distillery passed to Norman Buchanan and changed hands several times over the following decades. Production stood still between 1930 and 1937, and again from 1941 to 1945. Between April 1972 and January 1974, the entire distillery was demolished and rebuilt in its original style to allow for higher capacity – the number of stills grew from two to six. For a long time, the malt flowed almost exclusively into blends; only since 1988 have regular single malt bottlings appeared under its own name, and since 2006 it has been a fixed part of Diageo's "Classic Malts" series alongside Lagavulin.
How does Caol Ila differ from its Islay neighbours?
Anyone who likes Ardbeg and Lagavulin will find a close relative in Caol Ila: distinct Islay character with peat, smoke, and spice, though tending to be somewhat finer and fruitier than Lagavulin.
Overview of the most popular bottlings
1. Caol Ila 12 Year Old
The entry point into the classic Islay style.
Taste: Peat smoke, spice, and maritime freshness.
Serving suggestion: Neat, as an introduction to Islay whisky.
2. Caol Ila Moch
A brighter, fresher no-age-statement variant.
Taste: Citrus-fresh with more subtle smoke.
Serving suggestion: For anyone seeking a lighter Islay style.
3. Caol Ila 18 Year Old
The more mature variant, with greater depth.
Taste: Deepened smoke with ripe fruit.
Serving suggestion: For anyone wanting the house style in a more mature form.
Facts and figures
Address: Port Askaig, Isle of Islay. Capacity: around 6.5 million litres a year, three wash stills (35,345 l) and three spirit stills (29,549 l). Water source: Loch nam Ban. Owner: Diageo.