Caol Ila

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > C

CAOL ILA

15 years old

43 %

FLORA & FAUNA

Distilled 1977

Bottled 1992

Caol Ila Distillery,

Port Askaig, Isle of Skye

Caol Ila distillery, built in 1846 is situated near Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay. Steamers used to call twice a week to collect whisky from this remote site in a cove facing the Isle of Jura. Water supplies for mashing come from Loch nam Ban although the sea provides water for condensing. Unusual for an Is-lat this single Malt Scotch Whisky has a frsh aroma and a light yet well rounded flavour

CAOL ILA

21 years old

61,3%

RARE MALTS SELECTION
Natural Cask Strenght
Distilled 1977
Bottled October 1999
Limited Edition
Genummerde flessen
Bulloch Lade & Co, Glasgow

Clinging to Islay's remote shores in a cove near Port Askaig, Caol Ila has bene-fitted since 1846 from the finest mountain water supply on the island.

This white gold 21 year old has all the powerful aromas, smooth body, roasted pepper flavour and intensely fragrant, dry finish of what some say is Islay's most appetising malt.

CAOL ILA

16 years old

63,8%
FLORA & FAUNA
CASK STRENGHT
Distilled: 1981
Bottled in 1997
Limited Bottling
16 years old
Genummerde flessen
Caol Ila Distillery,
Port Askaig, Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

20 years old

61,12 %
RARE MALTS SELECTION
Natural Cask Strenght
Distilled 1975
Bottled: 1995
Limited Edition
Genummerde flessen
Bulloch Lade & Co, Glasgow
Imported by Schieffelin & Somerset Co,
New York. N.Y.

CAOL ILA

21 years old

58,3 %
VINTAGE 1975
Distilled 20.1.75
Bottled 8.10.99
Cask No. 464
275 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh.

CAOL ILA

13 years old

55,6%
GORDON & MACPHAIL RESERVE
Distilled 1990
Bottled 2003
Cask 1114
Limited Edition
283 bottles
Proprietor: Bulloch Lade & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

10 years old

43 %
SIGNATORY MILLENNIUM

EDITION
VINTAGE 1989
SIGNATORY 2000
Distilled 2.5.1989
Bottled 27th August 1999
Cask Nos 2440 & 2441
275 Bottles
MAGNUM
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky

Co, Ltd, Edinburgh
.
CAOL ILA

13 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1982
Distilled 9.3.82
Bottled 7.95
Cask no. 1513
360 bottles bottled
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd,
Edinburgh.

Uitgebracht, samen in Rack met Auchentoshan 9 years old, Mortlach 12 years old, Clynelish 9 years old en Highland Park 14 years old

CAOL ILA

9 years old

46%
1994
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
THISTLE COLLECTION
Distilled 6th September 1994
Bottled 4th August 2003
Cask No. 19842
Non Chill Filtered
Thistle, Holland

CAOL ILA

15 years old

64,7%
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Natural High Strenght 64,7 %
Distilled 1974
Bottled: 1989
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

14 years old

63,7%
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Natural High Strenght 63,7 %
Distilled 4/5/78 19/10/78
Bottled February 1992
Cask No. 5347 - 5351 - 11553 - 11564
Proprietors: Bulloch Lade & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

12 years old

65,5%
Natural High Strenght 65,5 %
Distilled 9/12/80
Bottled March 1993
Cask No. 10521 - 10524
Proprietors* Bulloch Lade & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

14 years old

63,1%
Natural High Strenght 63,1 %
Distilled 17/3/81
Bottled July 1995
Cask No. 1747 - 1750 - 1752 - 1753
Proprietors: Bulloch Lace & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

12 years old

40%
GORDON & MACPHAIL
PRIVATE COLLECTION
CALVADOS WOOD FINISH
A Rare and Exclusive Bottling from
The Directors Private Collection
Distilled 26/10/88
Cask No. 97/404 1,2
Bottled August 2000
2400 bottles
Genummerde flessen
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

12 years old

40%
GORDON & MACPHAIL
PRIVATE COLLECTION
COGNAC WOOD FINISH
A Rare and Exclusive Bottling from
The Directors Private Collection
Distilled 26/10/88
Cask No. 97/307 1,2
Bottled August 2000
3100 bottles
Genummerde flessen
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

12 years old

40%
GORDON & MACPHAIL
PRIVATE COLLECTION
CLARET WOOD FINISH
A Rare and Exclusive Bottling from
The Directors Private Collection
Distilled 26/10/88
Cask No. 97/307 3,4
Bottled August 2000
2100 bottles
Genummerde flessen
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

15 years old

45%
GORDON &   MACPAIL
PRIVATE COLLECTION
VINTAGE RUM FINISH
Islay 1990
A Rare and Exclusive Bottling from
The Directors Private Collection
Distilled 31/01/90
Cask Nos 99/103 1
Bottled June 2005
Numbered Bottles
865 Bottles
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

15 years old

45%
GORDON & MACPHAIL
PRIVATE COLLECTION
DEMERARA RUM FINISH
Islay 1990
A Rare and Exclusive Bottling from
The Directors Private Collection
Distilled 31/01/90
Cask Nos 99/103 2,3
Bottled June 2005
Numbered Bottles
650 Bottles
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

9 years old

55,2 %
GORDON & MACPHAIL

RESERVE
Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1995
Bottled 2004
Cask No. 10618
Limited Edition
303 Bottles
Proprietors: Bulloch Lade & Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

aged 12 years

43 %

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY
Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,
Isle of Islay
Out of sight, in a remote cove near Port Askaig lies Caol Ila, hidden gem among Islay's distilleries since 1846. Not easy to find, Caol Ila's secret malt is nonetheless highly prized among devotees of the Islay style.

Caol Ila lies close to Loch nam Ban, source of its pure mash water. The sea provides water for cooling and once brought steamers to collect a whisky appreciated for its balanced fresh style - lighter - bodied than many Islay malts, yet with all their typical peatiness.

Caol Ila's name (say 'Cull Eela') comes from the Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay'. Built in 1846 near Port Askaig, the costly establishment of this remotest of coastal Islay distilleries bankrupted Hector Henderson, its first owner. However, the single malt made in this hidden cove, although never easy to find, was always sought for its combination of an unmistakable Islay character with sublime drinkability.

Typically pale peated, today's Caol Ila remains true to its traditions. Not as pungent or heavy as some of its neighbours and remarkably fresh - tasting, it is yet deceptively intens on the finish. It has all the fresh sea - air aromas and smoky - dry spicy flavours of an expressive, appetising Islay malt.golden and

CAOL ILA

aged 18 years old

43 %
ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY
Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,
Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

geen leeftijd vermelding

55 %

CASK STRENGHT
ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY
Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,
Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

12 years old

46 %

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
THE UN-CHILLFILTERED
COLLECTION
ISLAY SINGLE MALT
Matured in a Refill Sherry Butt
Distilled on: 18 th December 1989
Cask No. 5374
Bottled on: 5 th June 2002
Genummerde flessen
812 Bottles
No Chillfiltration
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

11 years old

46 %
THE UN-CHILLFILTERED
COLLECTION
PORT FINISH
Islay Single Malt
Finished in a Refill Port pipe
Distilled on: 28 th January 1991
Bottled on: 12 th September 2002
Cask No. 02/472
Genummerde flessen
1132 Bottles
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

17 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1984
Distilled on 27 th November 1984
Cask No. 5746 & 47
Bottled on 5 th June 2002
Genummerde flessen
795 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

11 years old

43 %
VINTAGE 1991
Distilled on 28/1/1991
Cask Nos. 1095 & 96
Bottled on 6/8/2002
Genummerde flessen
842 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

21 years old

58,2 %
VINTAGE 1981
CASK STRENGHT
Distilled 27.1.81
Cask No. 165
Bottled 26.7.2002
Genummerde flessen
364 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage
Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd,

Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

23 years old

61,7 %
RARE MALTS SELECTION
Natural Cask Strenght
Distilled 1978
Bottled May 2002
Limited Edition
Genummerde flessen
Scottish Malt Distillers, Elgin

SOUND OF ISLAY

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY

geen leeftijd vermelding

46 %
Non Chill Filtered
Single Islay Malt Whisky
Bottled: 2004
Selected by
the Ultimate Whisky Company,

N.L.

CAOL ILA

20 years old

55,3%

SINGLE CASK SCOTCH MALT WHISKY
Distilled Jan 83
Bottled Sep 03
Outturn 149 Bottles
Society Cask code 53.71
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
'Dentist's mouthwash in a butler's pantry'
The distillery overlooks, and takes its name from the Sound of Islay, and produces a peaty whisky, well used in the Walker and Bell's blends. This example is a-typical; it comes from a refill hogshead and is full gold in hue, after twenty years. The first nose is pleasant and well-integrated - a collage of silver polish, soft cloth, polished and sawn wood, a trace of cow-gum glue. For some reason we were reminded of a butler's pantry: calm and old - fashioned.

The flavour, straight, reveals its Islay origin: sweet, but then smoky, with some wood and ash in the aftertaste. Water confirms the indentity, with mild medicinal phenols (dentist's mouthwash), fresh and, again 'calm'.

The whisky has a good thick mouth feel and a primary taste which is sweet then smoky, and which leaves the palate clean after a medium to long finish.

CAOL ILA

25 years old

59,4%
THE HIDDEN MALTS
SPECIAL RELEASES 2004

1978/2004
Fine Cask Strenght
Single Malt Whiskies
Natural Cask Strenght
Islay Single Malt Whisky
Limited Edition
6000 numbered Bottles
Caol Ila Distillery,
Port Askaig, Isle of Islay
Out of sight, in a remote cove near Port Askaig lies Caol IIa, hidden gem among Islay's distilleries since 1846. Not easy to find, Caol Ila's secret malt is nonetheless highly prized among devotees of the Islay style

A robust, complex, natural cask-strenght malt aged in American and European Oak refill casks, from a connoisseur's Islay distillery

Firm, fresh, smooth-bodied, with medicinal 'attack'. Peat smoke and creamy fruit on the nose, sweetly floral and drying to taste, then very maritime. Lingering, smoky finish.

CAOL ILA

12 years old

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY

46 %
AULD REEKIE
'the big smoke'
Bottled: 2004
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly

CAOL ILA

11 years old

43 %
1994
THE ULTIMATE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

WHISKY SELECTION

Distilled 20/1/94
Matured in a Whisky-hog
Cask no. 05/190/2
Bottled 29/3/05
Numbered Bottles
The Ultimate Whisky Company,

N.L.

CAOL ILA

10 years old

46 %
1994
THE ULTIMATE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

SELECTION
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Distilled 5/9/94
Matured in a Whisky-hog
Cask no. 10888
Bottled 27/6/05
Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
The Ultimate Whisky Company,

N.L.

CAOL ILA

26 years old

50 %
THE OLD MALT CASK 50o
Single Cask Bottling
Distilled December 1974
Bottled April 2001
294 Bottles
No Chill Filtration
No Colouring
Douglas Laing & Co, Ltd, Glasgow

CAOL ILA

25 years old

58,4%

INF0
THE HIDDEN MALTS
SPECIAL RELEASES 2005
Natural Cask Strenght
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled in:1979
Bottled in 2005
Limited Edition
Numbered Bottles
6000 Bottles
Caol IIa Distillery,
Port Askaig, Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

8 years old

59,8%

CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION
SPECIAL RELEASES 2006
Fine Cask Strenght Single Malt Whiskies
'UNPEATED STYLE'
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bottled in 2006
Limited Edition
From a batch made only once a year, from
unpeated malt, for blending in the 'Highland Style'
Limited Release from 1st fill Bourbon Oak casks
filled in 1997
Only 12.990 bottles worldwide
600 bottles available for the Netherlands
Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig, Isle of Islay

Out of sight, in a remote cove near Port Askaig lies Caol Ila, hidden gem among Islay's distilleries since 1846. Not easy to find, Caol Ila's secret malt is nonetheless highly prized among devotees of the Islay style.

A lively, unpeated natural cask-strenght Islay single malt, aged in first-fill bourbon casks. Made just once a year, this unusual type of Caol Ila is prized by blenders, who call it 'Highland style'. Clean and fresh nose, with stewed apples and new-mown grass. Smooth-bodied, sweet-smoky and fragrant palate, with crisp fruit and balancing saltiness. Unexnected impact and a clean, sharp finish.

CAOL ILA

12 years old

43 %
THE DISTILLERS EDITION
DOUBLE MATURED
Moscatel Cask Wood
CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
C - si; 3 - 467
Distilled 1995
Bottled 2007
Special Release
Limited Edition
Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,

Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

13 years old

43%
CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION
THE DISTILLERS EDITION
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
DOUBLE MATURED
MOSCATEL FINISHED
Distilled in 1993
Bottled in 2006
Special Release
Limited Edition
CaoL Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,
Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

Aged 22 years

58,8 %
19 8 4
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
CASK STRENGHT

COLLECTION
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled on: 16/05/1984
Matured in a Hogshead
Cask No: 3631
Numbered Bottles
265 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage Scotch

Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

Aged 32 years

55,7 %
1 9 7 4
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
CASK STRENGHT

COLLECTION
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled on: 27/12/1974
Matured in a Hogshead
Cask No: 12624
Numbered Bottles
261 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky

Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

Aged 32 years

58,4 %
1 9 7 5
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
CASK STRENGHT COLLECTION
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled on: 20/01/1975
Matured in a Hogshead
Cask No: 458
Numbered Bottles
221 Bottles
Natural Colour
Signatory vintage Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

M O C H

43 %

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig, Isle of Islay
Caol Ila distillery lies close to Loch nam Ban, source of its pure mash water.

Appreciated for its balanced, fresh style, it is lighter - bodied than many

Other Islay malts. Fresh and clean, CAOL ILA M O C H is an essential

Expression of this unmistakable, smooth and peaty Islay character

Soft, smooth clean and fresh, CAOL ILA M O C H ( in gaelic, ‘dawn’) evokes

the dawn of a new day, slowly prising Caol Ila from its slumbers and picking

out the shoreline of its little wooded bay.

CAOL ILA

46 %
2 0 0 6
SPIRIT OF SCOTLAND
SELECTED BY

VAN WEES JUNE 2013
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled: 18/07/2006
Cask Type: Refill Sherry Hogshead
Cask No: 306/199
Bottled:25/07/2013
Specially Selected, Produced and Bottled
by Speymalt Whisky Distributors Limited,
Elgin

CAOL ILA
30 years old

51,6 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE
MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
RARE RESERVE
CELEBRATING THE

500TH ULTIMATE BOTTLING
Distilled: 14/12/82
Cask Type: Hogshead
Cask No: 6489
Bottled: 16/08/13
200 Numbered Bottles
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky

Company.NL

CAOL ILA
VINTAGE 2 0 0 7
7 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Islay Single Malt
Distilled: 25/09/07
Matured in a Refill Butt
Cask no: 315519
Bottled: 19/03/15
725 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
Selected by The Ultimate Whisky

Company.NL

CAOL ILA
VINTAGE 2 0 0 3
11 years old

46 %
THE ULTIMATE

SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Islay Single Malt
Distilled: 10/09/03
Matured in a Hogshead
Cask no: 302456
Bottled: 19/03/15
344 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltered
Selected by The Ultimate

Whisky Company.NL

CAOL ILA

12 year

46 %
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 2003
Matured in 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels
Bottled 2015
Natural colour
Non Chill Filtration
Specially selected, produced and
bottled by Gordon & Macphail, Elgin
Islay Single Malt, of all whiskies are the most

pungent on nose and palate.

They are noted for peaty, briny and seaweedy

characteristics

Caol Ila has remained almost as a secret Islay

malt.

The name is pronounced ‘cull – eela’Gaelic for

‘Sound of Islay’. The distillery is located in a

cove near Port Askaig.

The whisky has cured meat aromas initially

with vanilla, apple and ripe banana.

The palate is sweet with pear and orange

flavours, complemented by a lingering

peat smoke edge.

CAOL ILA
7 years

46 %
THE ULTIMATE SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH WHISKY
Islay Single Malt
Distilled: 16/06/08
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask no: 311744
Bottled: 20/08/15
322 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Non Chillfiltration
Selected by The Ultimate
Whisky Company.NL.

CAOL ILA

13 years old

55,6%

GORDON & MACPHAIL

RESERVE

Distilled 1990

Bottled 2003

Cask 1114

Limited Edition

283 bottles

Proprietor: Bulloch Lade & Co, Ltd

Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

CAOL ILA

13 years old

43 %

VINTAGE 1982

Distilled 9.3.82

Bottled 7.95

Cask no. 1513

360 bottles bottled

Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co,

Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

aged 18 years old

43 %

ISLAY SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,

Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

11 years old

46 %

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY

THE UN-CHILLFILTERED

COLLECTION

PORT FINISH

Islay Single Malt

Finished in a Refill Port pipe

Distilled on: 28 th January 1991

Bottled on: 12 th September 2002

Cask No. 02/472

Genummerde flessen

1132 Bottles

Signatory Vintage

Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

11 years old

43 %

VINTAGE 1991

Distilled on 28/1/1991

Cask Nos. 1095 & 96

Bottled on 6/8/2002

Genummerde flessen

842 Bottles

Natural Colour

Signatory Vintage

Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Edinburgh

CAOL ILA

11 years old

43 %

1994

THE ULTIMATE

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

SELECTION

Distilled 20/1/94

Matured in a Whisky-hog

Cask no. 05/190/2

Bottled 29/3/05

Numbered Bottles

The Ultimate Whisky Company, N.L

CAOL ILA

10 years old

46 %

1994

THE ULTIMATE

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY SELECTION

LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY

Distilled 5/9/94

Matured in a Whisky-hog

Cask no. 10888

Bottled 27/6/05

Numbered Bottles

Natural Colour

Non Chillfiltered

The Ultimate Whisky Company, N.L.

CAOL ILA

26 years old

50 %

THE OLD MALT CASK 50o

Single Cask Bottling

Distilled December 1974

Bottled April 2001

294 Bottles

No Chill Filtration

No Colouring

Douglas Laing & Co, Ltd, Glasgow

CAOL ILA

8 years old

59,8%

INFO

CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION

SPECIAL RELEASES 2006

Fine Cask Strenght Single Malt Whiskies

'UNPEATED STYLE'

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottled in 2006

Limited Edition

From a batch made only once a year, from

unpeated malt, for blending in the 'Highland Style'

Limited Release from 1st fill Bourbon Oak casks

filled in 1997

Only 12.990 bottles worldwide

600 bottles available for the Netherlands

Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig, Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

12 years old

43 %

THE DISTILLERS EDITION

DOUBLE MATURED

Moscatel Cask Wood

CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

C - si; 3 - 467

Distilled 1995

Bottled 2007

Special Release

Limited Edition

Caol Ila Distillery, Port Askaig, Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

13 years old

43%

CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION

THE DISTILLERS EDITION

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

DOUBLE MATURED

MOSCATEL FINISHED

Distilled in 1993

Bottled in 2006

Special Release

Limited Edition

CaoL Ila Distillery, Port Askaig,

Isle of Islay

CAOL ILA

SWEET, FRAGRANT SMOKE, ANTISEPTIC

Licentiehouder: Bulloch Lade & Co, Ltd. Onderdeel van Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. (S.M.D.). De malt divisie van United Distillers Ltd. Eigendom van Guinness.
Caol Ila is Keltisch voor 'Zeeengte van Islay', dat is de Sound of Islay, die Islay scheidt van Jura.

Caol Ila werd gebouwd door Hector Henderson, die in1835 huurder was van de Union distilleerderij (1826 - 1850) en de ernaast gelegen Campbeltown distilleerderij ( 1815 - 1924). Hector Henderson had zich juist teruggetrokken van Littlemill.

Er heerste tussen 1835 en 1844 de ernstigste depressie van de 19e eeuw, er werden 61 distilleerderijen gesloten in die periode.

Ondanks het weinige vertrouwen dat er was in de malt whiskyindustrie, was er optimisme voor wat betreft de whisky van Islay, die waren toen meer gevraagd dan de lichtere Lowland malts.
Het is ook mogelijk dat Hector Henderson is overgehaald door de landeigenaar op Islay, Walter Frederick Campbell, die zocht naar meer werk en welvaart voor zijn mensen op Islay, en meehielp met het stichten van een twaalftal distilleerderijen op Islay, waaronder de sinds lange tijd niet meer bestaande Daill, Newton, Tallant, Lossit en Mulindry, allen grote boerderij distilleerderijen.
Ook was het water afkomstig van Torrabolls Loch van een uitstekende kwaliteit, en het verval zo groot dat het kon dienen als aandrijving voor de machinerie.

Ook in 1847 kocht Henderson de Camlachie distilleerderij,(1834 - 1920) ook bekend als Whitevale en Loch Katrine, en breidde de distilleerderij aanzienlijk uit. In 1849 was de huurder van de grond van Caol Ila een zekere William Campbell, mogelijk een financier. In 1850 ging Hector Henderson een compagnonschap aan met Mr Lamont om Lochindal (1829 1929) over te kunnen nemen, en in 1852 ging Henderson Lamont & Co bankroet.

De whiskyindustrie beleefde weer een heel moeilijke periode: er was een matigings beweging en de regering streefde erna de verschillen in accijnzen geheven In Engeland en Schotland te egaliseren, wat betekende dat de accijnzen in Schotland werden verhoogd.

Veel distilleerderijen overleefden dit niet en tussen 1850 en1857 sloten 30 distilldeerijen.

Norman Buchanan, eigenaar van de Isle of Juradistilleerderij op Jura, nam Caol Ila over in 1853 over en ging in 1863 bankroet. Bulloch Lade & Co namen Caol Ila in 1863 over.
Bulloch Lade & Co was ontstaan in 1856 toen Lade & Co fuseerden met Bulloch & Co, eigenaars van Loch Katrine(ook bekend als Camlachie en Whiteval te Glasgow en Lossit op Islay.

Bulloch Lade & Co was een grote onderneming, het waren voorraadhoudende handelaars, makelaars en ook blenders met een heel bekend merk Bulloch Lade Gold Label, dat niet alleen in Engeland en Schotland werd verkocht maar ook werd geëxporteerd. In 1868 werd Benmore (1868 - 1927) gebouwd door Bulloch Lade & Co.

In 1879 werd Caol Ila uitgebreid en gemoderniseerd en een aanlegpier werd gebouwd waar aan- en afvoer van goederen kon plaats vinden, onafhankelijk van eb en vloed, ook deden de stoomschepen van David MacBrayne de pier tweemaal per week aan. Caol Ila produceerde toen 670.000 liter spirit per jaar.

De jaren tachtig waren de jaren van voorspoed voor de Schotse whiskyindustrie, blended whiskies werden overal in de wereld verkocht en distilleerderijen werden vergroot en nieuw gebouwd.
Het succes van de blend Bulloch Lade Gold Label was zo groot dat op zeker moment er niet meer voldoende whisky in voorraad was.

Intussen begon de smaak van het publiek te veranderen naar lichtere, vriendelijker smaken en distillateurs op zoek naar plaatsen voor een nieuwe distilleerderij richten zich op het Speyside gebied, mede ook doordat er intussen spoorweglijnen liepen die Schotland verbonden met zeehavens en Engeland.

Met het frauduleus bankroet van de gebroeders Pattison te Leith in 1899 waren de jaren van voorspoed voor de Schotse whiskyindustrie voor heel lange tijd voorbij, in feite tot na de tweede wereldoorlog.
Veel distilleerderijen sloten, blenders, handelaren gingen failliet of gingen in liquidatie.

Na 1900, na de depressie volgend op de Boerenoorlog, die de Engelsen voerden in Zuid-Afrika, kwam de eerste wereldoorlog, de depressie die toen volgde, de Amerikaanse drooglegging en juist toen de markt opveerde, kwam de tweede wereldoorlog, toen ook zo goed als alle distilleerderijen werden gesloten.

De Distillers Company Ltd, (D.C.L), gevormd in 1877 door het samengaan van distilleerderijen in de Lowlandssaneerden onder de leiding van zijn directeur William Henry Ross ( 1862 - 1944) de whiskyindustrie gedurende de volgende jaren tot in 1987 The Distillers Company Ltd zelf in 1987, tegen hun zin, en frauduleus werden overgenomen door Guinness.

Bulloch Lade & Co gingen in 1920 in liquidatie met voorraden ter waarde van een half miljoen pond.

J.P. O'Brien Ltd, zelf op het punt staand in liquidatie te gaan, waren de kopers, maar verkochten de onderneming meteen door aan een consortium onder de leiding van The Distillers Company Ltd, met Dewars, Watsons of Dundee en W. P. Lowrie.

De naam werd Caol Ila Distillery Co, Ltd, en die werd geleid door Robertson & Baxter. Loch Katrine kwam in het bezit van The Distillers Company en werd in 1920 gesloten.
Benmore werd overgenomen door een nieuwe onderneming Benmore Distilleries Ltd, die ook Lochhead (1824 - 1928) in Campbeltown, Lochindaal (1829 - 1929) op Islay en Dallas Dhu (1851 - 1983) over namen. Benmore distilleerderij sloot in 1927. Benmore Distilleries werd in 1929 overgenomen door The Distillers Company Ltd .De gebouwen van de Benmore distilleerderij doen nu dienst als busgarage
.
Robertson & Baxter voerden veranderingen in om op de kosten te besparen. The Distillers Company Ltd, nam Caol Ila in 1927 over, samen met partners en deden de leiding over aan Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. In 1930 kwamen alle aandelen in het bezit van S.M.D
.

In die tijd had Caol Ila ook een 'Mission Hall', waar 'services are held every Sunday during the summer months by a divinity student from Glasgow or Edinburgh University and during the winter by the local minister every third Sunday'.

Caol Ila was gesloten van 1941 tot 1945.

In April 1972 ging Caol Ila weer dicht, nu om totaal verbouwd te worden, kosten hiervan bedroegen meer dan een miljoen pond.
Op 30 Maart 1974 werd Caol Ila weer opgestart met zes ketels (inclusief twee van de oude distilleerderij) die met stoom worden verhit door een met olie gestookte boiler.
De mout komt van Port Ellen.
Het water van Loch nam Ban
Er staan acht washbacks van elk 57000 liter
De drie Wash stills hebben een inhoud van elk 19000 liter, de drie Spirit stills elk 12.500 liter.
De output is 3,5 miljoen liter spirit.

De distilleerderij is 44 weken in produktie per jaar. Werkten er vroeger 30 tot 40 man, nu zijn dat er 12. De whisky wordt gelagerd in ex-Bourbon vaten

Tot 1972 bracht de Pibroch gerst, kolen en lege vaten via de eigen pier naar Caol Ila. Er liggen ook vaten met Caol Ila te rijpen in de lagerpakhuizen van de in 1929 gesloten Lochindaal distilleerderij bij Port Charlotte. In de zomer van 2000 gaat Caol Ila ertoe over zijn mout deels niet meer te turfroken, dit om in de behoefte van de blenders te voorzien.

Guinness nam Arthur Bell & Sons Limited in 1986 over en in 1987 The Distillers Company Ltd. (D.C.L.). Beiden tegen hun zin en in 1988 werden beide groepen van bedrijven samengevoegd om verder te gaan met de nieuwe naam United Distillers Limited
.

Op 12 Mei 1997 staakt de Fransman Bernard Arnault van L M V H zijn verzet tegen de fusie van Guinness en Grand Metropolitan voor een afkoopsom van ƒ 800.000.000.
De nieuwe naam van de gefuseerden zou eerst G M G Brands worden maar op 22 October werd bekend gemaakt dat de naam Diageo zou worden, afgeleid van het Latijnse woord voor dag, en het Griekse woord voor wereld.

Diageo wordt het grootste drankenconcern ter wereld, groter dan Seagram en Allied Domecq samen en met een omzet van 40 miljard gulden.
Op 28 Maart 1998 verkoopt Diageo het whiskymerk Dewar's en het ginmerk Bombay voor £ 1,15 miljard aan Bacardi Martini. Het afstoten van de twee merken was een voorwaarde die door de Amerikaanse mededingingsautoriteiten was gesteld aan de goedkeuring van de fusie van Guinness en Grand Metropolitan.

Dewar's heeft een omzet van ruim één miljard gulden en een marktaandeel van 10 %. Het merk is marktleider in de V.S. Diageo is de overkoepelende naam voor de ondernemingen United Distillers & Vintners, (U.D.V.) Pilsbury, Guinness en Burger King.

Onderdeel van de verkoop houdt ook in de overname van de distilleerderijen Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie en Royal Brackla door Bacardi Martini. Balmenach wordt in December 1997 verkocht aan Inver House.

De Mash tun is 11,5 ton.
De acht Wash backs zijn elk 57.000 liter.
De drie Wash stills zijn 19.000 liter, de drie Spirit stills elk 12.500 liter en worden met stoom verhit.

Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire
Caol Ila is the Gaelic name for the strait that separates Islayfrom Jura: the Sound of Islay. Hector Henderson used it for the distillery he built, facing the strait, in 1846, the year when he withdrew from partnership in Littlemill Distillery,Dunbartonshire. The attraction of the remote and beautiful site must have been the abundance of suitable water, from a fall that could be harnessed to provide power. Henderson'sbusiness was sequestrated in 1854, when Norman Buchanan, of Glasgow and the Isle of Jura Distillery, took over Caol Ila. He in turn ceased trading in 1863, when the distillery was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co., who already owned Loch Katrine Distillery, Glasgow, and would shortly build Benmore, at Campbeltown.

Caol Ila was "much extended and improved" by Bulloch Lade in 1879, according to Alfred Barnard in The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, 1887. It stood "on the very verge of the sea... in a deep recess of the mountain, mostly cut out of the" solid rock... Messrs. Bulloch Lade & Co. have built a fine pier at which vessels can load and unload at any state of the tide, and besides the chartered vessels arriving with barley, etc., there are two of David MacBrayne's steamers calling here twice a week for whisky. The buildings connected with the works are of solid construction and handsome appearance; they are all built of stone, hewn from the adjacent rocks. The Distillery... is arranged in the most modern style and possesses all the newest appliances..."

Annual output was then over 140 gallons (3,815 hectolitres).Bulloch Lade, of 4 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and 36 Mark Lane, London, E.C., were in a good position to sell the make. They were stockholders and commission agents for Scotch whiskies which they blended for trade customers. According to Industries of Glasgow, a book published in 1888, they enjoyed "a very great volume of trade which extends throughout the whole of Scotland and England, is particularly well developed in the latter country, and takes first position in the leading export markets".

Bulloch Lade was one of many Scotch whisky companies that went into voluntary liquidation as a result of the difficulties they met during and after the Great War. The next owners were Caol Ila Distillery Co. Ltd, incorporated in 1920. This company, managed by Robertson & Baxter Ltd., of Glasgow, devoted a great deal of capital expenditure to general improvements and to reduction of the costs of production. The Distillers Company Limited and its associates obtained control of Caol Ila Distillery Co. in 1927, when its management was transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. That company obtained ownership of all the shares three years later. Its secretary wrote in 1934 that the buildings contained "the most up-to-date plant andmachinery. There is a plentiful water supply, and all elevators, conveyors and electric dynamos are driven by water turbines".

At that time the distillery premises included a Mission Hall,where "services are held every Sunday during the summer months by a divinity student from Glasgow or Edinburgh University, and during the winter by the local minister every third Sunday".

Caol Ila Distillery was closed, on account of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers, from 1941 to 1945. By the 1970's SMD needed to expand at Caol Ila, and since the
main buildings were outworn, it was decided to demolish the entire structure, with the exception of the warehouses, and to build a new distillery which would retain the architectural character of its predecessor, and use the traditional methods of malt whisky production, with the benefit of premises that were incomparably better planned and equipped with new machinery. Production stopped in April 1972 and restarted on 30 January 1974 with 6 stills (including 2 from the old distillery) heated by steam from an oil-fired boiler. The cost of the project amounted to over one million pounds.

Until 1972, SMD's motor vessel Pibroch brought malting barley, coal and empty casks straight to Caol Ila's pier, returning to Glasgow with filled casks of whisky. Today the distillery obtains malt from Port Ellen makings and despatches whisky by road via roll-on, roll-off ferries at Port Askaig and Port Ellen.

The main supply of water comes from Loch nam Ban (Torra-bolls Loch), "over which" (Barnard wrote in his most lyrical vein) "ever and anon the fragrant breeze from the myrtle and blooming heather is wafted". SMD have water rights from Islay Estates to the supply from this loch, located about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km.) from the distillery. A cooling system is installed at Cao Ila where hot water from condensers in the distillery is pumped through a sea-water condenser, cooled and returned for re-use in the still house condensers. This system is invaluable in the summer months when water is in short supply.

Barnard noted in 1887 that "comfortable dwellings have been provided for the employees, forming quite a little village in themselves, and we envied the healthy life of these men and their families". Today Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. own 23 houses for this purpose.The distiller's licence is held by Bulloch Lade & Co. Ltd., of Glasgow, proprietors of Bulloch Lade and Old Rarity Scotch whiskies.

Distillery operating hours:

5 days a week, 24 hours a day
Number of employees:

11 full-time, 1 seasonal
Water source: Loch Nam Ban
Water reserve: not known
Water colour: brown
peat content of water: trace
Malt source: Port Ellen
Own floor maltings: no
Malt type: Optic
Malt specification phenols:

average 35 pprn (Caol Ila) 0 ppn

(Caol Ila Highland)
Finished spirit phenols:

average 12-1 3 ppni (Caol Ila); 0 ppm

(Caol. Ila HighIand)
Malt storage: 250 tonnes
Mill type: Porteus, installed late 1950s
Grist storage: 23 tonnes
Mash tun construction:

cast iron, steel bottom, copper top,

Lauter
Mash size: 11.5 tonnes
First water: 42.000 litres at 68 oC
Second water: 13.500 litres at 76 oC
Third water: 44.000 litres at 79 oC
Number of washbacks: 8
Washback construction: Oregon pine
Washback charge: 54.000 litres
Yeast : Mauri cultered yeast
Amount of yeast: 150 kg per washback
l.enght of fermentation:

80 hours (shorts:

week) 120 hours (long:weekend)
Initial fermentation temperalure: 16 oC
Strenght of wash: 8 per cent abv
Number of wash stills: 3
Wash stills built: 1974
Wash still capacity: 35.345 litres
Wash still charge: 18.000 litres

(51 per cent of capacity)
Heat source: steam pans
Wash still height:23 feet (7 metres)
Wash still shape: plain
Lyne arm: gently descending (10 oC)
Lenght of low-wines run: c. 4 hour
Low-wines collection range:

42 per cent abv - 1 per cent abc
Number of spirit stills: 3
Spirit still built: 1974
Spirit still capacity: 29.549 litres
Spirit still charge:

11.000 - 12.000 litres (37-41

per cent of capacity)
Strenght of spirit still charge:

c. 28 per cent abv
Heat source: steam coils
Spirit still height: 20 feet (6.09 m)
Spirit still shape: plain
Lyne arm: very gently descending (5oC)
Purifier: no
Condensers:

Six, internally sited, 10 feet 6 inches

(3.2 m) l

ong, each containing 171 one-inch

(2.54 cm) tubes
Lenght of foreshot run:

around 25-30 minutes
Lenght of spirit run: 2 - 3 hours
Lenght of feints run: about 3 hours
Spirit cut:

75 per cent abv - 65 per cent abv
Distilling strenght: 70.5 per cent average
Storage strenght: 63.5 per cent abv
Average spirit yield:

403 litres of pure alcohol per tonne

of malt

(2003)
Disposal of pot ale and spent lees:

dispersed in Sound of Islay
Type of cask filled for branded malt:

American oak hogsheads and

barrels or

Hidden Malts series
Current annual output:

3.500.000 litres of pure alcohol
Number of warehouses:

1 on Islay, but all stock now

tankered off

Islay for filling and ageing

Type of warehouses:

dunnage (on Islay); racked

(on mainland)
Storage capacity on Islay:

3.000 casks and diminishing
Percentage of branded malt

entirel aged on Islay:

lmost none
Vatting and bottling location:

matured at Blackgrange, Cambus,

Carsebridge,

Menstrie or Leven; vatted and

bottled at

Leven (in Fife)
Distillery expressions:

10- year old (approx) cask-strenght

(55 per cent,

non-chill-filtered) 12- year old 18- year old
Major blending roles:

Johnnie Walker range; Bells;

Black Bottle

CLASSIC MALTS OF SCOTLAND
October 2005
De Classic Malts of Scotland serie,

bestaande uit:
Glenkinchie 10 years old,
Dalwhinnie 15 years old,
Cragganmore 12 years old,
Oban 14 years old,
Talisker 10 years old,
Lagavulin 16 years old

verandert van samenstelling
Oban 14 year old wordt vervangen door

Glen Elgin 12 years old,

Lagavulin 16 years old

wordt vervangen door Caol Ila 12 years old

Dit komt omdat de betrokken distilleerderijen

de produktie niet meer aankunnen.

CLASSIC MALT SELECTION
tegelijkertijd wordt onder de naam

Classic Malts Selection een

3- Bottle Plinth uitgebracht met:
Glen Elgin 12 years old,
Talisker 10 years old,
Caol Ila 12 years old

Glen Elgin
Speyside
12 years old
FRUITY
Natuur geuren 15 %
Fruitigheid 60 %
Turf 10 %
Houttonen 15 %
deze malt kenmerkt zich door

zijn volle en zachte smaak met een

explosie van vers geel fruit

Talisker
Skye
10 years old
POWERFUL
Natuur geuren
Fruitigheid 30 %
Turf 70 %
Houttonen
een aromatische, explosieve

en prikkelende malt van Skye

die uiteindelijk ook zoete tonen laat proeven

CAOL ILA
Islay
12 years old
SMOKY
Natuur geuren 50 %
Fruitigheid
Turf 50 %
Houttonen
een malt met een duidelijk

karakter, krachtig compleet

met zee-aroma's en de geur van hout-vuur.

October 2005
Diageo has announced that its 2005 Annual Rare Malts Selection will be the last.
The collection will consist of four cask strenght single malts from closed distilleries; Glen Mhor 28 years old, Millburn 35 years old, Glendullan 26 years old and Linkwood 30 years old.
Dr. Nicholas Morgan, global malts marketing director commented: 'As the Special Releases are now well established, it makes less sence to continue selecting and promoting a parallel series of Rare Malts with his own separate indentity'.In future, all premium and rare whiskies will be made available in the annual Special Releases series.

2 April 2011
Diageo will this summer begin a million - pound overhaul of its Coal Ila distillery
It will cost a 3,5 pound, which will include a upgrade and replace equipment and will increase the output with 700.000 litres a year.

Islay Single Malt, of all whiskies are the most pungent on nose and palate.They are noted for peaty, briny and seaweedycharacteristics

Caol Ila has remained almost as a secret Islay malt.

The name is pronounced 'cull - eela'Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay'. The distillery is located in a cove near Port Askaig.

Caol Ila's distillery character manages to combine a fresh pear note, grassiness, a hint of juniper with distinct notes of the seashore – lobster shells, crab creels and gentle smoke. Although it receives the same spec of malt as sister distillery Lagavulin, Caol Ila’s distillation regime – longer fermentation, higher cut point, taller stills, helps to reduce the heavy phenols. Maturation for the single malt is in refill casks. The unpeated variant is equally delicate with a fresh estery and almost floral lift.

Its importance for blends meant that until 2002, when a 12-year-old was released, malt lovers had to seek out independent bottlings. Now there is a range including no-age-statement Moch, 18-year-old and 25-year-old, a finished Distillers Edition and annual special releases.

It was in 1846 that Hector Henderson decided to build a small distillery in a tight bay next to Port Askaig on Islay’seast coast. He named his venture Caol Ila, Gaelic for theSound of Islay, the stretch of water which it looked out over. In 1857 Henderson was bought out by blenders Bulloch Lade who improved the site by building a substantial pier. It was absorbed into DCL [now Diageo] in 1927 and ran continuously until 1972 when the old distillery was demolished and a new, significantly larger, one built with six stills rather than two. In doing so Caol Ila was transformed into Islay’s largest producer.

These were still the days before the single malt market and its make was destined for a huge array of blends across the whole whisky industry – most notably within its parent company it filled requirements for Johnnie Walker.

When the downturn came in the 1980s Caol Ila began running unpeated ‘Highland style’ for blends. Not only did it have capacity, but doing so allowed the distillery to stay open. Unpeated is still made every year with volumes dependent of Diageo’s blending team’s forecasts.

In 2011 another major revamp took place with a new mash tun and more washbacks being installed which resulted in capacity increasing to 6.5m litres per annum. During the silent period when contraction was taking place, Bunnahabhainmade the peated requirements.

1846

Caol Ila founded by Hector

Henderson next to Port Askaig

1852

Henderson, lamont & Co is subjected

to financial difficulties and Henderson

is forced to sell Caol Ila to Norman

Buchanan

1857

Norman Buchanan sells Caol Ila

to Bulloch Lade & Co whisky blenders

in Glasgow and they build a pier onto

the site

1879

Caol Ila is rebuilt and expanded

1927

DCL (later Diageo) takes over Caol Ila

1972

The original distillery is completely

demolished, save for the warehouses,

and rebuilt with six new stills

The renovation cost 1.000.000 pound

The maltings demolished

1988

The Flora & Fauna Series are launched

1999

Caol Ila experiments with unpeated malt

2002

Caol Ila 12 Year Old, the distillery's first

permanent official bottling, after the

Flora & Fauna bottling, is launched,

+ 18 year + CS = 10 year sold

it is the start of a stand olone promotion

of Caol Ila

2003

A 25 year old CS is released

2006

Unpeated 8 year old, 1993 Moscatel

Finished are released

2009

The fourth edition of the unpeated

expression = 10 year old is released

2010

a 25 year old, a 1999 Feisle Isle,

a Manager's

Choice are released

2011

An unpeated 12 year old, a

No Age Moch

are released

2012

An unpeated 14 year old released

2013

An unpeated Stichell Reserve is

released

2014

A 15 year old unpeated released

2016

A 30 year old released

2017

An 18 year old released

2018

A 15 year old, a 35 year old are

released in the Special Releases Series

2020

Capacity: 6.500.000 Ltrs

Output: 5.800.000 Ltrs

A 35 years old is released part of the

new range Prima and Ultima

2022

A24 years old Anniversary Bottling and

a Four Corners of Scotland 14 years old

are released

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

Minimum 55hrs

FILLING STRENGTH i

63.5%

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

HEAT SOURCE i

Steam

MALT SPECIFICATION i

Heavily peated

MALT SUPPLIER i

Mostly in house

MASH TUN TYPE i

Lauter

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

Heavily peaty

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

70%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

12,000

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Plain

STILLS i

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

20,000

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Plain

WASHBACK TYPE i

8 wood, 2 steel

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Loch Nam Burn

WORT CLARITY i

Clear or cloudy

YEAST TYPE i

Creamed

OWNERS

Diageo

1997 - present

United Distillers

1986 - 1997

Distillers Company Limited

1927 - 1986

Robertson & Baxter Group

1920 - 1927

JP O'Brien Limited

1920

Bulloch Lade & Company

1857 - 1920

Norman Buchanan

1854 - 1857

Henderson, Lamont & Co

1846 - 1852

CAOL ILA, GLENKINCHIE UNVEIL VISITOR PLANS

October 2018

Single malt whiskies Caol Ila and Glenkinchie have unveiled ambitious plans to overhaul visitor experiences at their distilleries in Scotland.

The proposed changes form part of a £150m strategy from owner Diageo to revamp its Scotch whisky tourism facilities, centred on Johnnie Walker’s planned new global visitor attraction in Edinburgh, announced in April this year.

The scheme will link the new Edinburgh attraction to four single malt distilleries that are central to Walker: Caol Ila on Islay, Glenkinchie in the Lowlands, Cardhu on Speyside and Clynelish in the Highlands, representing regional flavour variations.

At Caol Ila, a new visitor centre will be created in the distillery warehouse, including a bar with views across the Sound of Islay to Jura.

Visitors will enter via a footbridge leading into the roof of the warehouse from new parking facilities on the hill above the distillery.

‘A lot of careful thought has been put into the plans to ensure we minimise any impact on the local community,’ said Pierrick Guillaume, Caol Ila distillery manager.

‘We look forward to working with the community and stakeholders as we progress the plans.’

Islay residents were the first to view the plans last week, withDiageo expecting to submit a planning application to Argyll & Bute Council before the end of this year.

Subject to planning permission, the work is scheduled to begin in 2019.

The plans at Glenkinchie – formally submitted to East Lothian Council this week – centre on the renovation and conversion of the distillery’s red-brick warehouse buildings into a multi-level visitor experience, including a welcome lounge, shop, bar and cocktail-making classroom, tasting room and ‘cask draw experience’.

Diageo said a number of newer buildings would be demolished to help create a ‘welcome garden’ in front of the new centre

‘This is a very significant and exciting point on our journey to transform Glenkinchie,’ said Ramsay Borthwick,Glenkinchie distillery manager. ‘We are incredibly excited about the plans.’

If the scheme is approved by the council, work will begin in2019, with completion scheduled for 2020.

By linking the new Johnnie Walker attraction in Edinburghwith the four malt whisky distilleries, Diageo hopes to create a‘Johnnie Walker tour of Scotland’, encouraging visitors toEdinburgh to venture into Scotland’s rural communities.

Detailed plans related to the upgrades to Cardhu andClynelish will follow later, while the overall £150m scheme will also include improvements to Diageo’s other single malt distillery visitor centres across Scotland.

CAOL ILA 50 YEAR OLD IS ‘OLDEST’ BOTTLED

December 2018

Gordon & MacPhail has released what it claims is the ‘oldest’ Caol Ila to have been bottled – a 50-year-old single cask whisky – alongside a 64-year-old Glenlivet, as the latest additions to its Private Collection range.

Caol Ila 50-year-old and Glenlivet 64-year-old Gordon & MacPhail

Long maturation: The 1954 Glenlivet and 1968 Caol Ilawere both aged in Sherry casks

The Caol Ila bottling, distilled in 1968, has been matured in a refill Sherry hogshead and bottled at a cask strength of 52.5% abv.

Said to contain ‘a gentle Sherry influence’ with ‘a lingering finish of bonfire embers entwined with lemon zest’, only 199 of the 70cl decanters have been created, priced at £7,500 each.

The Glenlivet 1954 single cask bottling was aged in a refill Sherry butt and bottled at a cask strength of 41% abv.

Said to deliver notes of ‘golden syrup, stewed fruit, and dark chocolate with spicy black peppercorn’, just 222 of the 70cl decanters exist, priced at £9,950 each.

Both casks have been selected by Stuart Urquhart, associate director of whisky supply for G&M and part of the Urquhartfamily dynasty, who have owned the business since its inception in 1895.

Stephen Rankin, director of prestige and fourth generation member of the Urquhart family, said: ‘These latest releases epitomise the expertise and commitment that has gone into pairing spirit and cask over 123 years and four generations of the Urquhart family.’

Both whiskies will be available worldwide, although prices in international markets may vary.

Last month G&M unveiled a new look for its Private Collection bottlings, including redesigned packaging with vertical ridges and veneered wooden gift boxes for each whisky in the range.

The redesign was the latest update in a year of change for the bottler, after it overhauled its portfolio of products in April.

Caol Ila is the Gaelic name for the strait that separates Islay from Jura: the Sound of Islay. Hector Henderson used it for the distillery he built, facing the strait, in 1846, the year when he withdrew from partnership in Littlemill Distillery, Dunbartonshire. The attraction of the remote and beautiful site must have been the abundance of suitable water, from a fall that could be harnessed to provide power. Henderson's business was sequestrated in 1854, when Norman Buchanan, of Glasgow and the Isle of Jura Distillery, took over Caol Ila. He in turn ceased trading in 1863, when the distillery was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co., who already owned Loch Katrine Distillery, Glasgow, and would shortly build Benmore, at Campbeltown.

Caol Ila was "much extended and improved" by Bulloch Lade in 1879, according to Alfred Barnard in The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, 1887. It stood "on the very verge of the sea... in a deep recess of the mountain, mostly cut out of the” solid rock... Messrs. Bulloch Lade & Co. have built a fine pier at which vessels can load and unload at any state of the tide, and besides the chartered vessels arriving with barley, etc., there are two of David MacBrayne's steamers calling here twice a week for whisky. The buildings connected with the works are of solid construction and handsome appearance; they are all built of stone, hewn from the adjacent rocks. The Distillery... is arranged in the most modern style and possesses all the newest appliances..."

Annual output was then over 147,000 gallons (3,815 hectolitres). Bulloch Lade, of 4 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and 36 Mark Lane, London, E.C., were in a good position to sell the make. They were stockholders and commission agents for Scotch whiskies which they blended for trade customers. According to Industries of Glasgow, a book published in 1888, they enjoyed "a very great volume of trade which extends throughout the whole of Scotland and England, is particularly well-developed in the latter country, and takes first position in the leading export markets".

There is a plentiful water supply, and all elevators, conveyors and electric dynamos are driven by water turbines".

At that time the distillery premises included a Mission Hall, where "services are held every Sunday during the summer months by a divinity student from Glasgow or Edinburgh Univer-sity, and during the winter by the local minister every third Sunday".

Caol Ila Distillery was closed, on account of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers, from 1941 to 1945.

By the 1970's SMD needed to expand at Caol Ila, and since the

main buildings were outworn, it was decided to demolish the entire structure, with the exception of the warehouses, and to build a new distillery which would retain the architectural character of its predecessor, and use the traditional methods of malt whisky production, with the benefit of premises that were incomparably better planned and equipped with new machinery. Production stopped in April 1972 and restarted on 30 January 1974 with 6 stills (including 2 from the old distillery) heated by steam from an oil-fired boiler.

The cost of the project amounted to over one million pounds.

The main supply of water comes from Loch nam Ban (Torra-bolls Loch), "over which" (Bar-nard wrote in his most lyrical vein) "ever and anon the fragrant breeze from the myrtle and blooming heather is wafted". SMD have water rights from IslayEstates to the supply from this loch, located about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km.) from the distillery. A cooling system is installed at CaoIla where hot water from condensers in the distillery is pumped through a sea-water condenser, cooled and returned for re-use in the still house condensers.

This system is invaluable in the summer months when water is in short supply.

The distiller's licence is held by Bulloch Lade & Co. Ltd., of Glasgow, proprietors of Bulloch Lade and Old Rarity Scotch whiskies.

CAOL ILA 22 YEARS OLD, FÈIS ÌLE 2019

SCORE

Scoring explained >

Caol Ila 22 Years Old, Fèis Ìle 2019

ABV

54.8%

PRODUCTION TYPE

Single malt whisky

REGION

Islay

AVAILABILITY

3,000 bottles

FLAVOUR CAMP

Smoky & Peaty

NOSE

Immediately complex, rich and decadent. Very oily as well, like sea-wet oilskins. This maritime edge then starts to give way to sweet spices (cassia and mace), some applewood, a surprising (for Caol Ila) mintiness, then Szechuan pepper, before sweet, ripe blue fruits emerge alongside agave syrup, castor oil and layers of peat. Highly complex.

PALATE

Elegantly unfolds itself across the tongue, starting with heavy, rich fruits, some of the oiliness and a little prickle of spice. Everything seems to coalesce in the centre of the tongue before the smoke starts to peel off. The effect is like sitting on the beach in the sunshine eating ripe, dark fruits, then a cooling salt-laden breeze comes in. Water adds a light menthol touch, along with some juniper and more overt smokiness.

FINISH

Long, gentle and complex.

CONCLUSION

In what is a great year for the bottlings this one, for me at least, had the greatest balance and complexity – and at £130 it is a steal.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME

The sensation of a Star Exploding In Slow Motion.

2021

Earlier this year, Diageo announced a £3.5million investment in increasing capacity at its Caol Ila distillery in Islay.

Coal Ila Distellery

Distillery operating hours 5 days a week, 24 hours a day

Number of employees 11 full-time, 1 seasonal

Water source Loch Nam Ban

Water reserve not known

Water colour brown

peat content of water trace

Malt source Port Ellen

Own floor malt ings no

Malt type Optic-

Malt specification phenols average 35 pprn (Caol Ila)

0 ppn (Caol Ila Highland)

Finished spirit phenols average 12-1 3 ppni (Caol Ila);

0 ppm (Caol. Ila HighIand)

Malt storage 250 tonnes

Mill type Poleus, installed late 1950s

Grist storage 23 tonnes

Mash tun construction cast iron, steel bottom, copper top, Lauter

Mash size 11.5 tonnes

First water 42.000 litres at 68 oC

Second water 13.500 litres at 76 oC

Third water 44.000 litres at 79 oC

Number of washbacks 8

Washback construction Oregon pine

Washback charge 54.000 litres

Yeast Mauri cultered yeast

Amount of yeast 150 kg per washback

l.enght of fermentation 80 hours (shorts: week) 120 hours (long:

weekend)

Initial fermentation temperalure 16 oC

Strenght of wash 8 per cent abv

Number of wash stills 3

Wash stills built 1974

Wash still capacity 35.345 litres

Wash still charge 18.000 litres (51 per cent of capacity)

Heat source steam pans

Wash still height 23 feet (7 metres)

Wash still shape plain

Lyne arm gently descending (10 oC)

Lenght of low-wines run c. 4 hours

Low-wines collection range 42 per cent abv - 1 per cent abc

Number of spirit stills 3

Spirit still built 1974

Spirit still capacity 29.549 litres

Spirit still charge 11.000 - 12.000 litres (37-41 per cent of capacity)

Strenght of spirit still charge c. 28 per cent abv

Heat source steam coils

Spirit still height 20 feet (6.09 m)

Spirit still shape plain

Lyne arm very gently descending (5oC)

Purifier no

Condensers six, internally sited, 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m) long,

each containing 171 one-inch (2.54 cm) tubes

Lenght of foreshot run around 25-30 minutes

Lenght of spirit run 2 - 3 hours

Lenght of feints run about 3 hours

Spirit cut 75 per cent abv - 65 per cent abv

Distilling strenght 70.5 per cent average

Storage strenght 63.5 per cent abv

Average spirit yield 403 litres of pure alcohol per tonne of malt (2003)

Disposal of pot ale and spent lees dispersed in Sound of Islay

Type of cask filled for branded malt American oak hogsheads and barrels

for Hidden Malts series

Current annual output 3.500.000 litres of pure alcohol

Number of warehouses 1 on Islay, but all stock now tankered off Islay

for filling and ageing

Type of warehouses dunnage (on Islay); racked (on mainland)

Storage capacity on Islay 3.000 casks and diminishing

Percentage of branded malt entirely

aged on Islay almost none

Vatting and bottling location matured at Blackgrange, Cambus,

Carsebridge, Menstrie or Leven;

vatted and bottled at Leven (in Fife)

Distillery expressions 10- year old (approx) cask-strenght

(55 per cent, non-chill-filtered)

12- year old

18- year old

Major blending roles Johnnie Walker range; Bells; Black Bottle

Diageo marks completion of Four Corners of Scotland investment with Caol Ila Distillery

25 August, 2022

Diageo has unveiled the new visitor experience at its Caol Ila Distillery on the Isle of Islay, following a multi-million pound transformation.

Four years in the making, the visitor experience is the seventh of Diageo’s whisky brand homes to be reimagined as part of the company’s £185 million investment in whisky tourism, also completing the transformation of its four distilleries, Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Caol Ila and Clynelish.

Barbara Smith, managing director of Diageo’s Scotland Brand Homes, said: “Caol Ila is the last of our reimagined brand homes to be unveiled and it’s truly something special. Islay is known around the world for its whisky and we’ve ensured that our visitor experience not only tells the story of the Caol Ila brand but also the role whisky plays in the island’s history.

“The new building will offer something new to visitors and also to locals who will be able to come for social occasions or just to simply enjoy the views. We look forward to welcoming people from near and far now that our doors are officially open,” Smith added.

The experience includes vistas of the neighbouring island of Jura, a retail space, a bar with floor to ceiling windows, and immersive storytelling rooms showcasing Caol Ila’s history and craft.

In July, Diageo reported that global scotch organic net sales grew 29% year-on-year with double digit growth across all regions and Johnnie Walker was up 34%.

Along with Diageo’s other 13 visitor experiences in Scotland, Caol Ila holds a Green Tourism Gold Award, the highest sustainability accolade for a visitor attraction

Diageo marks completion of Four Corners of Scotland investment with Caol Ila Distillery

25 August, 2022

Diageo has unveiled the new visitor experience at its Caol Ila Distillery on the Isle of Islay, following a multi-million pound transformation.

The experience includes vistas of the neighbouring island of Jura, a retail space, a bar with floor to ceiling windows, and immersive storytelling rooms showcasing Caol Ila’s history and craft.

In July, Diageo reported that global scotch organic net sales grew 29% year-on-year with double digit growth across all regions and Johnnie Walker was up 34%.

Along with Diageo’s other 13 visitor experiences in Scotland, Caol Ila holds a Green Tourism Gold Award, the highest sustainability accolade for a visitor attraction.

Lagavulin and Caol Ila launch limited edition bottlings for Fèis Ìle

04 May, 2023

Islay distilleries Lagavulin and Caol Ila have announced the launch of two single malts to celebrate the return of the island’s music and whisky festival Fèis Ìle.

Caol Ila will, for the first time, host the festival in its new visitor experience and to mark the occasion is launching the limited edition Fèis Ìle 2023 13-Year-Old, matured in PX and Oloroso seasoned butts.

“Fèis Ìle is always a remarkable time for us and we’re so excited to host it for the first time in our new visitor experience,” said Sam Hale, Caol Ila distillery manager.

“This bottling is a special one for the team and we’re looking forward to raising a glass together with our fans”.

On the island’s south coast, Lagavulin is launching Fèis Ìle 2023 14-Year-Old, which is matured in American and European oak and finished in Armagnac casks, a first for the distillery.

“Lagavulin Fèis Ìle is always a celebration for us all on Islay and as we come together to share a dram this year’s release is no different,” said Jordan Paisley, Lagavulin distillery manager.

“This combination of casks is a special nod to our team near and far as we continue to surprise our fans with unexpected flavours and twists on their favourite whisky.”

Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 13-Year-Old is bottled at 60.4% ABV, with an rrp of £185, Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2023 14-Year-Old is bottled at 58.4% ABV, with an rrp of £220. Both bottlings will be available to purchase from each distillery during the festival.