About Caol Ila

Diageo owns the Caol Ila Distillery, a Scotch whiskey distillery on the Scottish island of Islay not far from Port Askaig. In reference to the distillery's position overlooking the strait between Islay and Jura, Caol Ila is derived from the Gaelic word caol le, which means 'Sound of Islay' (also known as 'Islay Strait'). Hector Henderson established it in 1846. The Isle of Jura Distillery owner Norman Buchanan took over the distillery in 1854 after it did not perform well. Bulloch Lade & Co, whiskey stock merchants from Glasgow, bought the company in 1863. Duncan Johnston was the distillery manager in 1871, according to the census. The Johnston family was associated with yet another distillery on the island since Duncan was John Johnston of Lagavulin's nephew and a relative of the Johnstons who own Laphroaig. By the 1880s, the area was producing more than 147,000 imperial gallons (670,000 L) of whiskey annually. As a result of Bulloch Lade's voluntary insolvency in 1920, a group of merchants established the Caol Ila Distillery Company Ltd. The Distillers Company bought a majority stake in Caol Ila in 1927, and Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. acquired full ownership of the company in 1930. Due to constraints on the supply of barley to distillers during the Second World War, the distillery was forced to close between 1942 and 1945. Production continued after that up until 1972, when the distillery's whole building was destroyed. Production subsequently restarted in 1974 when a bigger distillery that George Leslie Darge had designed in the same architectural style as many of his predecessors and with his signature glass curtain walls to the still buildings was erected. Diageo eventually acquired the business.

Caol Ila Whiskies

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2010 - Clanyard (Fable Whisky)

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2010 Clanyard (Fable Whisky)


Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2009 (cask 318769) - Berry Bros. & Rudd

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2009 (Cask 318769) Berry Bros. & Rudd


Caol Ila Feis Ile 2021

Caol Ila Feis Ile 2021


Caol Ila 30 Year Old - The Kinship (Hunter Laing)

Caol Ila 30 Year Old The Kinship (Hunter Laing)


Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2011 (Parcel No.7) - Reserve Casks (The Single Malts of Scotland)

Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2011 (Parcel No.7) Reserve Casks (The Single Malts Of Scotland)


Caol Ila Unpeated 15 Year Old (Special Release 2018)

Caol Ila Unpeated 15 Year Old (Special Release 2018)


Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2012 Sherry Cask (Asta Morris)

Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2012 Sherry Cask (Asta Morris)


Caol Ila 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 9736) - Artist #7 (La Maison du Whisky)

Caol Ila 20 Year Old 1995 (Cask 9736) Artist #7 (La Maison Du Whisky)


Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2013 (cask 15422) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2013 (Cask 15422) Provenance (Douglas Laing)


Caol Ila 1975 (Gordon & MacPhail)

Caol Ila 1975 (Gordon & Macphail)


Caol Ila 27 Year Old 1981 - Rare Auld (Duncan Taylor)

Caol Ila 27 Year Old 1981 Rare Auld (Duncan Taylor)


Caol Ila 12 Year Old - 1970s

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1970s


SMWS 53.70 1983 (Caol Ila)

Smws 53.70 1983 (Caol Ila)


Caol Ila 22 Year Old 1976 (Adelphi)

Caol Ila 22 Year Old 1976 (Adelphi)


Caol Ila 29 Year Old 1966 Sherry Cask - Centenary Reserve (Gordon & MacPhail)

Caol Ila 29 Year Old 1966 Sherry Cask Centenary Reserve (Gordon & Macphail)


Caol Ila 12 Year Old - 1980s

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1980s


Caol Ila 15 Year Old Sherry Cask - The Manager's Dram

Caol Ila 15 Year Old Sherry Cask The Manager's Dram


Caol Ila 14 Year Old  2007 (cask 307363) - Infrequent Flyers (Alistair Walker)

Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 (Cask 307363) Infrequent Flyers (Alistair Walker)


Caol Ila 13 Year Old (Cask 311547) - The Red Cask Co.

Caol Ila 13 Year Old (Cask 311547) The Red Cask Co.


Caol Ila 11 Year Old (Chorlton Whisky)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old (Chorlton Whisky)


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 – The Eclipse (James Eadie)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 – The Eclipse (James Eadie)


Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2012 (cask 302759) - James Eadie

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2012 (Cask 302759) James Eadie


Caol Ila 13 Year Old  2008 (cask 16) - The Cooper's Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.)

Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2008 (Cask 16) The Cooper's Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.)


Caol Ila 6 Year Old (cask 315817) - Dràm Mòr

Caol Ila 6 Year Old (Cask 315817) Dràm Mòr


Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2013 - North Star Spirits

Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2013 North Star Spirits


Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2013 - North Star Spirits - Netherlands Exclusive

Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2013 North Star Spirits Netherlands Exclusive


Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 - Cask Collection (A.D. Rattray)

Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 Cask Collection (A.d. Rattray)


Caol Ila 40 Year Old 1980 (cask 14963) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Caol Ila 40 Year Old 1980 (Cask 14963) Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)


Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2013 (cask 15244) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2013 (Cask 15244) Provenance (Douglas Laing)


Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2012 (cask 15291) - Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2012 (Cask 15291) Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)


Caol Ila Feis Ile 2014

Caol Ila Feis Ile 2014


Caol Ila 1984 (bottled 1999) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Caol Ila 1984 (Bottled 1999) Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & Macphail)


Caol Ila 29 Year Old 1984 (cask 13608) - Old Malt Cask 15th Anniversary (Hunter Laing)

Caol Ila 29 Year Old 1984 (Cask 13608) Old Malt Cask 15th Anniversary (Hunter Laing)


Caol Ila 9 Year Old (cask 302761 & 319270 & 319272) - James Eadie The Black Lion

Caol Ila 9 Year Old (Cask 302761 & 319270 & 319272) James Eadie The Black Lion


Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 318772) - Berry Bros & Rudd

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2009 (Cask 318772) Berry Bros & Rudd


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (cask 324056 & 324058) - (Signatory)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (Cask 324056 & 324058) (Signatory)


Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 (cask 303558 & 303559 & 312141) - James Eadie The Red Lion

Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2011 (Cask 303558 & 303559 & 312141) James Eadie The Red Lion


Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2012 (cask 319465 & 319470) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2012 (Cask 319465 & 319470) Un Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)


Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2007 - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon and MacPhail)

Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2007 Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon And Macphail)


Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 362139) - James Eadie UK Exclusive

Caol Ila 13 Year Old 2008 (Cask 362139) James Eadie Uk Exclusive