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

cl10 – elements of islay

Cl10 – Elements Of Islay


cl8 - elements of islay

Cl8 Elements Of Islay


caol ila 1996 masterpieces

Caol Ila 1996 Masterpieces


caol ila 20 year old 150th anniversary

Caol Ila 20 Year Old 150th Anniversary


caol ila 1982 40 year old 50th anniversary

Caol Ila 1982 40 Year Old 50th Anniversary


caol ila 17 year old unpeated special releases 2015

Caol Ila 17 Year Old Unpeated Special Releases 2015


caol ila 1984 38 year old connoisseurs choice

Caol Ila 1984 38 Year Old Connoisseurs Choice


caol ila 2007 15 year old oloroso sherry cask signatory

Caol Ila 2007 15 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Signatory


caol ila 2012 10 year old bourbon cask signatory

Caol Ila 2012 10 Year Old Bourbon Cask Signatory


caol ila 1981 21 year old cask #280 first cask

Caol Ila 1981 21 Year Old Cask #280 First Cask


caol ila 1981 21 year old cask #252 first cask

Caol Ila 1981 21 Year Old Cask #252 First Cask


caol ila 1978 23 year old rare malts

Caol Ila 1978 23 Year Old Rare Malts


caol ila 1966 29 year old sherry cask centenary reserve

Caol Ila 1966 29 Year Old Sherry Cask Centenary Reserve


caol ila 2012 11 year old smos reserve casks parcel #11

Caol Ila 2012 11 Year Old Smos Reserve Casks Parcel #11


caol ila 1984 29 year old sherry cask signatory for the whisky exchange

Caol Ila 1984 29 Year Old Sherry Cask Signatory For The Whisky Exchange