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 35 Year Old (Cask CM260) - The Golden Cask (House of Macduff)

Caol Ila 35 Year Old (Cask Cm260) The Golden Cask (House Of Macduff)


Caol Ila 36 Year Old Platinum - Old & Rare (Hunter Laing)

Caol Ila 36 Year Old Platinum Old & Rare (Hunter Laing)


Caol Ila 15 Year Old 2003 Peaty Artist #9 (La Maison du Whisky)

Caol Ila 15 Year Old 2003 Peaty Artist #9 (La Maison Du Whisky)


Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2011 (cask 900056) - Fadandel

Caol Ila 7 Year Old 2011 (Cask 900056) Fadandel


Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 (Cask CM287) - The Golden Cask (House of Macduff)

Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 (Cask Cm287) The Golden Cask (House Of Macduff)


Caol Ila 2010 10 Year Old Collective 5.3 (La Maison du Whisky)

Caol Ila 2010 10 Year Old Collective 5.3 (La Maison Du Whisky)


Caol Ila 2012 Sherry Butt - Strictly Limited (Càrn Mòr)

Caol Ila 2012 Sherry Butt Strictly Limited (Càrn Mòr)


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 ((cask 312835)) - The Red Cask Co.

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 ((Cask 312835)) The Red Cask Co.


Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2012 (casks 327599 & 327600) Un-chilfiltered Collection (Signatory)

Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2012 (Casks 327599 & 327600) Un Chilfiltered Collection (Signatory)


Caol Ila 32 Year Old - The Kinship (Hunter Laing)

Caol Ila 32 Year Old The Kinship (Hunter Laing)


Caol Ila 15 Year Old - Fèis Ìle 2022

Caol Ila 15 Year Old Fèis ÌLe 2022


Caol Ila 26 Year Old 1975 (Cask 457) -  Signatory Vintage

Caol Ila 26 Year Old 1975 (Cask 457) Signatory Vintage


Caol Ila 30 Year Old 1991 - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)

Caol Ila 30 Year Old 1991 Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)


Caol Ila 5 Year Old 2016 ((Cask 306088)) - Family Series (The Single Cask)

Caol Ila 5 Year Old 2016 ((Cask 306088)) Family Series (The Single Cask)


Caol Ila 15 Year Old - Flora & Fauna

Caol Ila 15 Year Old Flora & Fauna


Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2010 - Berry Bros. & Rudd

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2010 Berry Bros. & Rudd


Caol Ila 25 Year Old

Caol Ila 25 Year Old


Caol Ila (Bottled 2022) - Berry Bros. & Rudd

Caol Ila (Bottled 2022) Berry Bros. & Rudd


Caol Ila 15 Year Old 2000 Unpeated (Special Release 2016)

Caol Ila 15 Year Old 2000 Unpeated (Special Release 2016)


Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)


Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2012 (casks 322141 & 322155) Un-Chilfiltered Collection (Signatory)

Caol Ila 9 Year Old 2012 (Casks 322141 & 322155) Un Chilfiltered Collection (Signatory)


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (cask 105) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (Cask 105) Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)


Apothecary's Notebook 15 Year Old 2007 - Wemyss Malts (Caol Ila)

Apothecary's Notebook 15 Year Old 2007 Wemyss Malts (Caol Ila)


Caol Ila 2010 11 Year Old - The First Editions (Hunter Laing)

Caol Ila 2010 11 Year Old The First Editions (Hunter Laing)


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 - The Kilnsman's Dram

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 The Kilnsman's Dram


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 - Paloma (Goldfinch Whisky Merchants)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 Paloma (Goldfinch Whisky Merchants)


Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2013 (cask 16075) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2013 (Cask 16075) Provenance (Douglas Laing)


Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 (Bottled 2021) - Wilson & Morgan

Caol Ila 14 Year Old 2007 (Bottled 2021) Wilson & Morgan


Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2009 30th Anniversary - Wilson & Morgan

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2009 30th Anniversary Wilson & Morgan


Caol Ila 15 Year Old 2007 (Bottled 2022) - Wilson & Morgan

Caol Ila 15 Year Old 2007 (Bottled 2022) Wilson & Morgan


Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2010 Tulip Edition - Ds Tayman

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2010 Tulip Edition Ds Tayman


Caol Ila Bonfires & Blackberries (cask 6677) - The Cooper's Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.)

Caol Ila Bonfires & Blackberries (Cask 6677) The Cooper's Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.)


Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2009 Wilson & Morgan Cask Strength (Cask 32140/41/44/46/47302315/320)

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 2009 Wilson & Morgan Cask Strength (Cask 32140/41/44/46/47302315/320)


Caol Ila 40 Year Old - Director's Special (The Single Malts of Scotland)

Caol Ila 40 Year Old Director's Special (The Single Malts Of Scotland)


Caol Ila 2010 (bottled 2022) (cask 311758) - Berry Bros. & Rudd

Caol Ila 2010 (Bottled 2022) (Cask 311758) Berry Bros. & Rudd


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (Cask 108) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (Cask 108) Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)


Caol Ila 16 Year Old Fèis ìLe 2020

Caol Ila 16 Year Old Fèis ìLe 2020


Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (cask 103) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2010 (Cask 103) Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)


Caol Ila 16 Year Old 2006 ((Cask 6441)) - (Alistair Walker) - Infrequent Flyers (Alistair Walker)

Caol Ila 16 Year Old 2006 ((Cask 6441)) (Alistair Walker) Infrequent Flyers (Alistair Walker)


Caol Ila 1974 (Cask 12440 & 12448) Dun Eideann

Caol Ila 1974 (Cask 12440 & 12448) Dun Eideann