🥃 Caol Ila
Distillery and peated single malt brand near Port Askaig on Islay, founded in 1846; six stills, 6.5 million litres a year; owned by Diageo.
Caol Ila is a distillery and peated single malt Scotch whisky brand near Port Askaig on the east of the Isle of Islay. It was founded by Hector Henderson in 1846, and after its 1972 rebuild it became the largest on the island: six stills, 6.5 million litres a year. The name means "Sound of Islay" in Gaelic, and the owner is Diageo.
History. The original distillery was demolished in 1972 and built anew, increasing the number of stills from two to six. It was previously owned by various companies, including DCL and United Distillers; Diageo has owned it since 1997. In 2011 the capacity was expanded to 6.5 million litres. Caol Ila long served as an important part of blends, including Johnnie Walker. The first permanent official bottling, the 12-year-old, appeared in 2002.
How it is made. The malt is heavily peated, but a long fermentation, a high cut point and tall stills reduce the "heaviness" of the phenols; that is why Caol Ila is often described as citrusy and maritime, with gentle smoke. The water comes from Loch Nam Burn. From the 1980s an unpeated "Highland-style" spirit was also made for blends.
The range. Moch (no age statement), 12, 18 and 25 years, Distillers Edition and annual special releases.
Why this matters to you. Caol Ila is peated, but softer than some other Islay whiskies. The age on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1846, Hector Henderson (Port Askaig, Islay); rebuilt in 1972 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Islay) |
| EU category | 2 - whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | heavily peated barley malt; water from Loch Nam Burn |
| Distillation method | twice, 6 copper stills; capacity 6.5 million litres a year |
| Minimum maturation | from 3 years in oak by law; 12 years is the permanent version since 2002 |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 40% ABV by law |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Caol Ila → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What is made from it
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Green Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Islay whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Peated whisky, 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Lagavulin, 🥃 Laphroaig, 🥃 Talisker, 🥃 Talisker, 🥃 Lagavulin, 🥃 Laphroaig, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Double Black, 🥃 Ardbeg
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Caol Ila is the largest distillery on Islay?
According to Whiskypedia, after the 1972 rebuild it became the largest producer on the island; since 2011 the capacity has been 6.5 million litres a year.
What does the name Caol Ila mean?
In Gaelic it means "Sound of Islay", the strait between Islay and Jura.
Who owns Caol Ila?
Diageo, since 1997; earlier the distillery belonged to United Distillers, DCL and other companies.
Is Caol Ila always smoky?
The base is heavily peated malt, but a long fermentation and tall stills reduce the heavy phenols; there is also an unpeated version for blends.
When did the 12-year-old appear?
In 2002, as the first permanent official bottling.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Port Ellen · 🥃 Lagavulin · 🥃 Bowmore · 🥃 Kilchoman · 🥃 Talisker · 🥃 Oban
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Caol Ila (Hector Henderson 1846; 1972 rebuild, six stills; 6.5 mln litres; Loch Nam Burn; Diageo)
- Difford's Guide: Caol Ila Distillery (established 1846, capacity 6.5 mln litres, Diageo)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)