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Distillery in Focus:          Caol Ila
Region: Islay
Name: Caol Ila ("Sound of Islay")
Status: Active
Website: www.discovering-distilleries.com
Telephone: 01496 850 011
E-Mail: caolila.distillery@diageo.com
Address: Port Askaig, Isle of Islay PA46 7R Latitude 55.8543 N, Longitude 6.1093W
Visitor centre: Yes
Owner: Diageo
Established in 1846
Stills: 3 wash and 3 spirit still
Percentage single malt: N.A.
Casks used for maturation: Refill bourbon cask, with some rare sherry casks.
Contribute(d) to the following blends: Bulloch Lade, Black bottle, Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse.

Regular Bottling:

Caol Ila Moch (since 2011)
Caol Ila Cask Strength 59.3%
Caol Ila Moscatel finish 43%
Caol Ila 12 YO, 43%
Caol Ila 18 YO 43% (until 2008)

For the tasted whiskies, click here

Many Caol Ila have been released as part of their Special Releases (e.g., Caol Ila 25 YO 58.4%, Caol Ila unpeated 1998 -10 YO 65.8%, Caol Ila "bottled only for the friends" 43%). The first official single cask (12 YO) has been released during the Feis Ile 2009 58.0% followed by a more widely available Caol Ila Manager's choice in 2010. Caol Ila had been previously bottled at 15 YO (43%) in their Fauna & Flora range and at several occasions in their Rare Malts collection. A Caol Ila 1990 Manager's dram and a 150th Anniversary special bottling have been released for the staff only.
From left to right: The first official 12 YO (43%, since 1988), the 15 YO Manager's dram (1990), the 20 YO 150th Anniversary, the 23 YO Rare Malts (1978), the Caol Ila at the Distillery 2007 (58.4%) and the now discontinued 18 YO 43% (2008).

History of the Caol Ila distillery

The distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Norman Buchanan took over the distillery in 1854, when the business of Hector Henderson was sequestrated. Buchanan ceased trading in 1863, when the distillery was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co. The distillery was improved and extended in 1879. The annual output was then 381,500 LPA. Of note, this was the first distillery on Islay to use concrete for the buildings. Bulloch Lade went into voluntary liquidation in 1920 and purchased by J.P. O’Brien Ltd who resold it later that year to Caol Ila Distillery Co Ltd, company managed by Robertson & Baxter Ltd. The new owner devoted a lot of capital to further improve productivity. The Distillers Company Limited and its associates obtained control of the distillery in 1927 and all the shares 3 years later. The distillery was silent between 1930 and 1937.

On account of wartime restriction, the distillery closed from 1941 to 1945. The floor malting operation were stopped in 1970. Since the main buildings were outworn and the SMD needed to expand the capacity of the distillery to support the extension of their brands. it was decided to demolish the entire structure, with the exception of the warehouses, and to build a new distillery.Production stopped in April 1972 and restarted on 30 January 1974 in the new distillery with 6 stills (including 2 from the old distillery) heated by team from an oil-fired boiler. The cost of the project amounted to over one million pounds. SMD tranferred the control of the new distillery to its associate Bulloch Lade & Co. Ltd. The distillery was transferred to United Distillers in 1992 and became part of Diageo plc (UDV) in 1997. Unpeated malt, called internally "highland spirit" have been produced since 1999.

 
Caol Ila still house with the view over the sound of Jura and the Paps of Jura
The washbacks with the mash tun on the back The spirit safe

 

Source: Distillery visit, The Scotch Whisky Distilleries by Misako Udo, The Making of Scotch whisky by John R. Hume & Michael S. Moss, Rare Malts, Facts, Figures and Taste by Ulf Buxrud and The DCL Distillery Histories Series by Brian Spiller.
Patrick Brossard © 16 May 2010

Tasted whiskies (146):

Official/original bottlings (OB)  
Age  
Caol Ila 8 YO unpeated, OB, 59.8%, B:2006 Rating: 08/20
Caol Ila 10 YO unpeated, OB, 65.8%, B: 2009. 6000 b. Rating: 11/20
Caol Ila 11 YO Feis Ile 2011, OB, 64.3%, B: 2011, c. 301/696, 500 b Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 12 YO, OB, 43%. B:2006 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 12 YO, OB, 43%, B:2016. Rating: 13/20
Caol Ila 12 YO, OB, 43%, B:2017 Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 12 YO Feis Ile 2016, OB, 56.2%, B:2016. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 12 YO unpeated, OB, 64%, B: 2011 Rating: 10/20
Caol Ila 14 YO unpeated, OB, 59.3%, B: 2012, 5958 bottles Rating: 12/20
Caol Ila 15 YO Unpeated Stitchell Reserve,OB, 59.6%, B: 2013 Rating: 11/20
Caol Ila 15 YO Orange Label, OB, (Bulloch & lade), 43%, B: 1970s. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 15 YO Manager's Dram, OB, 63% Rating: 19/20
Caol Ila 15 YO Golden Decanter, OB, 43%, B: 1980s. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 15 YO Bulloch Lade, OB, 57%, B:1980s. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 18 YO Unpeated Special Releases 2017, OB, 59.8%, B:2017. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 25 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2010. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 35 YO Special Releases 2018, OB, 58.1%, B:2018, 3276 b. Rating: 18/20
   
Vintages  
Caol Ila 1977 Rare Malts, 21 YO, OB, 61.3%. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1979, 25 YO, OB, 58.4%, B:2006, 6000 b. Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 1983 Special Releases, 30 YO, OB, 55.1%, B:2014, 7638 b. Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1996 Feis Ile 2009, 12 YO, OB, 58%, cask 19313. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1997 Manager's Choice , OB, 58%, B: 2009. c 14185 Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1998 Feis Ile 2015, OB, 57.3%, B:2015, 1500 b. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1999 Feis Ile 2010, OB, 61.9%, B:2010, c. 305646 Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 2007 at Distillery, 58.4%, OB, 2000 b. Rating: 17/20
   
No age specified  
Caol Ila Cask Strength, OB, 55%. B:2006 Rating: 10/20
Caol Ila Moch, OB, 43%, B: 2011 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila Moch, OB, 43%, B:2016 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila Moch, OB, 43%, B:2017. Rating: 14/20

 

Independent bottlings (IB) and undisclosed "Caol Ila"  
   
Acla Selection  
Caol Ila 2009, 11 YO,  Acla Selection, 53.4%, B :2021, cask 319093. Rating: 14/20
   
Asta Morris  
Caol Ila 2011, 7 YO, Asta Morris, 56.1%, B:2018, C. AM055, 580 b. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila  2011, 8 YO, Asta Morris, 55.1%, B:2019, c. AM058, sherry, 245 bottles. Rating: 16/20
   
Adelphi  
Caol Ila 1984, 23 YO, Adelphi, 57.3%, B: 2008, c. 626 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1993, 12 YO, Adelphi, 59.9%, cask 7850 Rating; 17/20
Caol Ila 1993, 12 YO, Adelphi, 59.1%, B: 2006, c. 915 Rating: 14/20
Breath of Islay (Caol Ila) 1999, 11 YO, Adelphi, 56.6%, B : 2010, c. 5582, 286 b. Rating: 14/20
   
bar du Nord  
Islay Caol Ila 2009, Bar du Nord, 59.9%, B:2016. Rating: 15/20
   
Blackadder  
Caol Ila 1982, 27 YO, Blackadder, 55.8%, B: 2009. c. 757 Rating: 15/20
   
Bladnoch Forum  
Caol Ila 1980, 30 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 53.3%, B: 2010, c. 4684, 264 b. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1983, 25 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 52.7%, B: 2009 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 1984, 25 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 54.1%, B: 2010, c. 5388, 265 b. Rating: 16/20
   
Berry Bros & Rudd  
Caol Ila 1982 for LMDW, 26 YO, BBR, 55.4%, B: 2008, c 756 Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1982 for LMDW, 26 YO, Berry Bros & Rudd, 54.8%, B:2009, c. 6502 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 1984 for LMDW, 25 YO, BBR, 57.9%, B: 2009, c 5383, 280 b. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1996, 12 YO, BBR, 56.7%, B: 2008, c. 12245. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1984,33 YO, Cadenhead’s, 54.5%, B:2017 Rating: 14/20
   
Cadenhead's  
Caol Ila 1966, 18 YO, Cadenhead’s, 46%, B:1982 Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1974, 21 YO, Cadenhead’s, 58.4%, B:1995 Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1980, 36 YO, Cadenhead’s, 52.3%, B:2016, 210 b. Rating: 14/20
   
Carn Mor (Scottish Liqueur Centre)  
Caol Ila 1979, 30 YO, Carn Mor, 59.5%, B: 2009, cask 4603 Rating: 12/20
   
Claxton's  
Caol Ila 2012, 7 YO, Claxton’s, 60%, B:2019, 285 b. Rating: 13/20
   
Douglas Laing / Hunter Laing  
Caol Ila (1974) Old Malt Cask, 26 YO, D. Laing, 50% (miniature) Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1979 OMC, 25 YO, D. Laing, 50%, B: 2005, c. 2102, 271 b. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1990 OMC Rum finish, 17 YO, D. Laing, 50%, B: 2007, ref #3898, 182 b Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1994 for La Maison du Whisky, 15 YO, D. Laing, 58.2%. B:2009, 90 bottles. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1994 Old Malt Cask, 18 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B:2013. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1996 for Clan Divo, 16 YO, Clan Denny, 58.2%, B:2013, ref DH9740, 150 b. Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 2010 Old Malt Cask 25th Anniversary, 13 YO, Hunter Laing, 50%, B:2023 Rating: 16/20
   
   
Douglas of Drumlanrig  
Caol Ila 1996, Douglas of Drumlanrig, 57.7%, B: 2013, LD 10173 Rating: 14/20
   
Duncan Taylor  
Caol Ila 1992 NC2, 15 YO, Duncan Taylor, 54.4% Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1996 NC2, 16 YO, Duncan Taylor, 46%, B: 2008 Rating: 13/20
   
Dun Eideann  
Caol Ila 1976, Dun Eideann, 58.2%, B : 1995, c. 8072, 250 b. Rating: 17/20
   
Elements of Islay  
Cl 8, Elements of Islay, 55.2%, B:2017. Rating: 16/20
Cl 10, Elements of Islay, 58.2%, B:2018. Rating: 14/20
Cl11 elements of Islay, Elixir Distillers, 55.4%, B:2018. Rating: 11/20
   
Elixir Distillers  
Caol Ila 40 YO, Elixir Distillers, 49.1%, B:2022, 108 b. Rating: 17/20
   
Exclusive Malts  
Caol Ila 1980 Exclusive Malts, 28 YO, David Stirk, 50.5%, cask 4936 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1984 Exclusive Malts, 23 YO, David Stirk, 50.7%, B: 2007, c. 2729 Rating: 16/20
   
First Cask  
Caol Ila 1974, First Cask, 46%, c. 12469 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1982, 25 YO, First Cask, 60.8%, B: 2007 Rating: 17/20
   
Gordon & MacPhail  
Caol Ila for Sestante, 15 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 65.3%, B:1986 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1966 for Meregalli, Gordon & MacPhail, 57.2% Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1968, Gordon & MacPhail, 58.5%, B:1980s. Rating: 19/20
Caol Ila 1968, Gordon & MacPhail, 58.6% Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1969, 15 YO, G&M 60.4%, B: 1984 Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1969 Private Collection, 35 YO, G&M, 45%, B:2004, c. 1755 and 1760, 374 b. Rating: 19/20
Caol Ila 1977,Gordon & MacPhail, 63.8%, B:1980s Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 1981 for LMDW 60th Anniversary, 34 YO, G&M, 59%. B:2016, c.5316 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1993 Connoisseur’s choice, G&M,40%, B:2006. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1996, G&M, 59.1%, cask 6070-72 Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1996 for LMDW, G&M, 46%, B: 2008, c.161179. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1999 for Taiwan, G&M, 58.2%, B:2016, c. 305346. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila for Sestante, 20 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 53.6%. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 2003, Gordon & MacPhail, 59.6%, B:2014 Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 2003 for Ramseyer’s whisky connection, Gordon & MacPhail, 58.6%, B:2015, c. 302250 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 2004, Speymalt (G&M), 46%, B:2013. Rating: 11/20
Caol Ila 2006, 10 YO, G&M, 60.2%, B:2017, c. 306183+4, 306186+7. Rating: 16/20
   
High Spirit  
Caol Ila 1984 Valentino Zagatti’s Personal Choice, 24 YO, High Spirits, 46%, B : 2008. Rating: 12/20
   
Intertrade  
Caol Ila 1966, 19 YO, Intertrade, 58.3%, B: 1985 Rating: 19/20
   
Jack Wiebers  
Caol Ila 1979 Cross Hill, 27 YO, JWWW, 60.9%, 204 bottles Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1984, 22 YO, Jack & Jack (JWWW), 51%, B: 2006 Rating: 16/20
   
James MacArthur  
Caol Ila 1995 Old Masters Sherrywood, 14 YO, James MacArthur, 58.4%, B: 2010, c.10042. Rating: 16/20
   
Jas Gordon  
Caol Ila 1972, Jas Gordon & Co, 40%, B: 198 Rating: 12/20
   
Jean Boyer  
Caol Ila 1979 Best Casks of Scotland, 26 YO, Jean Boyer, 46% Rating: 18/20
   
Maltbarn,  
Caol Ila 1995, 19 YO, Maltbarn, 52.8%. B:2014 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 2004, 12 YO, Maltbarn, 54.7%, B:2017, 175 b. Rating: 15/20
   
Monnier  
Caol Ila 11 YO Fighting Fish, Monnier Trading, 58.5%, B :2024 Rating: 14/20
   
Moon Import  
Caol Ila 1995, Moon, 46%, B:2011 Rating: 16/20
   
Murray McDavid  
Caol Ila 1991 Mission, 17 YO, MMD ,46%. B : 2008 Rating: 15/20
   
Rattray, A.D. and Rattray Dewar  
Caol Ila 1984 for the Nectar, Dewar Rattray, 58.5%, B: 2006, c. 6266. Rating: 13/20
Caol Ila 1993 for Alba Import for Germany, 21 YO, A.D. Rattray, 56.8%, B:2014, c. 11144. Rating: 14/20
   
Samaroli  
Caol Ila 1978 20th Anniversary, Samaroli, 50%, B:1998 Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1980, Samaroli, 45%, B:2014, c. 4934, 190 bottles Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 2001, Samaroli 45 %, B:2014, cask 303799 Rating: 15/20
   
Sansibar  
Caol Ila 1997, 19 YO, Sansibar, 40.2%, B:2016 Rating: 15/20
   
Scott's Selection  
Caol Ila 1984, Scott’s selection, 54.1%, B:2004. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1994, Scott's selection, 54.1%, B: 2007 Rating: 13/20
   
Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)  
Caol Ila 1974 53.35, 24 YO, SMWS, 58.4%, Rating: 16/20
   
Sestante  
Caol Ila 15 YO, Sestante, 65.3%, B: 1970s Rating: 16/20
   
Signatory  
Caol Ila 1974, 17 YO, Signatory, 61.1%, B:1991, c. 5-9 Rating: 19/20
Caol Ila 1974, 22 YO, Signatory, 56.7%, B:1997, c. 12465. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1974 Private Bottling, 24 YO, Signatory, 60.5% Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 1974 for LMDW, 30 YO, Signatory, 46%, B: 2005. c. 12623, 419 b. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1974, 32 YO, Signatory, 55.7%, B: 2007, c. 12624, 261 b. Rating: 19/20
Caol Ila 1975, 32 YO, Signatory, 58.4%, B: 2007, c. 458, 221b Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1979, 26 YO, Signatory, 58.7% Rating: 13/20
Caol Ila 1982, 29 YO, Signatory, 56.3%, B: 2012, c.6468, 263 b. Rating: 13/20
Caol Ila 1983 for Waldhaus am See, 30 YO, Signatory, 48.9%, B:2013, c.5302, 250 b. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1983, 30 YO, Signatory, 48.9%, B: 2014, c. 5301, 253 b. Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila  for The Whisky Exchange, 31 YO, Signatory, 48.1%, B:2015, c.5294. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1983, 32 YO, Signatory, 49.3%, B: 2016, c. 5292 Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1995 for Waldhaus Am See, 21 YO, Signatory, 46%. B:2016, c. 706. Rating: 18/20
Caol Ila 2006, 12 YO, Signatory, 55.9%, B:2019, c. 31156519. Rating: 13/20
Caol Ila 2007 For Whisky Schiff Luzern, 11 YO, Signatory, 52.9%, B:2019. Rating: 12/20
Caol Ila 2007 for Ramseyer’s whisky connection, 12 YO, Signatory, 58.2%, B: 2020, c. 307339. Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila  2008 Mahjong, Signatory, 56.7%, B:2019, c. 310352, 132 b. Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila For 20th Anniversary of Wadlhaus am See 2009, 8  YO, Signatory, 58.7%, B:2018, c. 317866 Rating: 12/20
Caol Ila For Ramseyer’s Whisky Connection, 8 YO, Signatory, 55.6%, B:2018, c. 314664 Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 2011 for the 25th Anniversary of World of Whisky by Waldhaus, Signatory, 58.8%, B:2024, Burgundy cask 6 Rating: 14/20
   
Speciality Drinks  
Port Askaig 17 YO, Speciality Drinks Ltd, 45.8%, B: 2009 Rating: 13/20
Port Askaig 100 proof, Speciality Drinks, 57.1%, B:2016 Rating: 13/20
Caol Ila 1996 Masterpieces, 18 YO, Speciality Drinks, 52.2%, B: 2014. Rating: 14/20
   
Spirit of Scotland  
Caol Ila 2004, Spirit of Scotland, 46%, B:2014, c. 306643 Rating: 14/20
Caol Ila 2005, Spirit of Scotland, 46%, B:2014, cask 301536 Rating: 14/20
   
Valinch & Mallet  
Caol Ila 2002, 14 YO, Valinch & Mallet, 50.70%, B:2016, c. 16-242. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 2002, Valinch & Mallet, 52.8%, B.2017, sherry c. 17-002 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 10 YO,Valinch & Mallet, 53.5%, B:2019 Rating: 15/20
   
Wemyss  
Wemyss Vanilla Smoke Islay 1997, Wemyss, 46%, B: 2009. 342 b. Rating: 13/20
   
Whisky Agency (The) (TWA)  
Caol Ila 1979, 32 YO joint bottling with The Nectar, TWA, 52%, B: 2011, 242 b. Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 1982, 27 YO, The Perfect Dram, 62.4%, B: 2009, 108 b Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila 1983 The Perfect Dram(Refill sherry), 26 YO, TWA, 55.3%, B: 2009 Rating: 16/20
Caol Ila 2007 for Heads and Tails, The Whisky Agency, 52.9%, B :2019 Rating: 12/20
   
   
Whiskybase  
Caol  Ila 1982 Archives, Whiskybase, 51.2%, B: 2012 Rating: 14/20
   
WhiskyCask, The  
Caol Ila 1990, 21 YO, The Whisky Cask, 55.1%, B: 2012 Rating: 16/20
   
Whisky Chamber (The)  
Caol Ila 1983, 27 YO, The Whisky Chamber, 51.4%, B: 2011 Rating: 16/20
   
Whisky Fair  
Caol Ila 1981, 30 YO, The Whisky Fair, 51.6%, B: 2011, 130 b. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1984 sherry, 22 YO, Whiskyfair, B: 2007, 55.9% Rating: 17/20
   
Wilson & Morgan  
Caol Ila 1974, 18 YO, Morgan & Wilson, 60.9%, B: 1993, c. 12493, 262 b. Rating: 17/20
Caol Ila 1980, 15 YO, Wilson & Morgan, 46%, B:1996 Rating: 15/20
Caol Ila, 18 YO, Wilson & Morgan 57.5 %, B: 2013 Rating: 16/20