| Region of production: | Islay |
| Distillery Location: | Port Askaig, Argyll and Bute |
| Year Established: | 1846 |
Top Spirits Produced
- Core Range:
- 12, 18, 25 Years Old
- Moch, Distillers Edition, Cask Strength
Average Total Production
- 2.7 million liters neutral spirit before aging
Summary
Coal Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson, a distiller from Glasgow. It gets its name from the Gaelic words for the Sound of Islay, the strait between the islands of Islay and Jura, which the distillery overlooks from its position on Islay’s rugged northeastern coast. When Henderson fell into financial difficulties, he sold Caol Ila; it changed hands several times in the following decades, with various owners expanding the operation. It was eventually sold to a consortium, which was acquired in 1927 by Distillers Company Limited, now owned by Diageo. Caol Ila was closed multiple times during the 1900s, but in 1974, with demand rising, the distillery, including six new stills, was entirely rebuilt.
Style & Distillation Techniques
Caol Ila sources its barley from Port Ellen, which many attribute to the current production’s style, which is lighter and cleaner than in years past. Interestingly, Caol Ila’s barley is peated to 35 phenol parts per million—equivalent to that of Lagavulin, which has a rich, intense style, demonstrating the significant effects of distillation and maturation on a spirit’s final flavor profile. Overall, Caol Ila’s spirits tend to be lighter in color and more floral than those of its Islay neighbors.
Producer Website: Caol Ila