Caol Ila Whisky offers a refined and distinctive Islay character, marked by a balance of smoky and sweet flavours.
We stock an extensive selection of Caol Ila expressions, including many of their milestone releases and collectable bottles. We often release limited editions, showcasing the distillery's history in producing heavily peated, sought after Islay malts.
Our scotch whiskies, including Caol Ila, are all available to buy both online and in our Edinburgh store. We have UK delivery and international shipping for those situated abroad.
Caol Ila is a bright, clean Islay malt of great quality. Malty sweetness and an oily texture form the base of the whisky, and a grassy floats over lovely smoke and salty beach character. Breaking through deeper flavours of smoked meat is a fresh, sweetened lemon citrus. A classic note is 'coal tar soap', but that is a rather specific reference to old fashioned school days!
Founded
1846
Owner
Diageo
Production Status
Operational
Capacity
3,500,000 Litres
The stills at Caol Ila look out over a spectacular view across the Sound of Islay to the Paps of Jura, and the water in this tidal channel can rush past at some speed. The whisky distilled in these stills obviously enjoys the view, incorporating flavours of the peat bogs and the salty sea air. The distillery was modernised in the 1970's when the present modern appearance and picture windows arrived. The style of the whisky produced also received modernisation in the 70's. It lost a little of the peppery character but its oily body, highly prized by blenders, intensified. Indeed, when they had to take some tough decisions during a period of over supply, the quality and efficiency of this distillery saved it from the axe (over poor old Port Ellen).
For a long time, independent bottlers flew the flag of Caol Ila while Diageo merely used it as a filling in Johnnie Walker but in 2002 they launched their own range of three core bottlings which are all excellent.
Caol Ila is a great malt for giving as a gift to fans of Ardbeg, Bowmore, Lagavulin or peaty whiskies in general, as it is a pleasantly full bodied dram but has a wonderfully light, yet complex profile. A unique style of peaty whisky.
Featured Bottles from Caol Ila
There are many bottles from this renowned Islay distillery, with many younger, and older expressions available.
Here are some top picks to consider:
Caol Ila 12 Year Old – On the nose, this offers a combination of sweet flowers and lemon. The body is smooth and the palette gives a malty start and long smoky finish.
Caol Ila 25 Year Old – A part of the Caol Ila core range, this whisky is sweet, fresh, and subtle to the nose. It has a medium finish with the peat lingering in the background and a hint of roasted almond towards the end.
Explore a range of whisky expressions by buying the North Star Wee Star pack. This pack features A Caol Ila 8-year-old and makes for a great gift.
Buy Caol Ila Whisky From Royal Mile Whiskies
We stock great Caol Ila Whisky bottles, which make for a great addition to your collection.
Looking for a specific bottle? Let us know what you’re looking for. We have a reputation for going out of our way to help customers find their desired whiskies. This is reflected with hundreds of positive google reviews.
When you order with us, we aim to dispatch your order as soon as possible, with delivery times taking 1-2 business days in the UK mainland. We also have international shipping options for countries like Canada, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the entire USA.
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If you like Caol Ila whisky, you may also enjoy
Islay Whisky: Caol Ila is known for its balance of smoke and sweetness, a hallmark of Islay whiskies.
Lagavulin Whisky offers a richer, more intense peat experience that fans of Caol Ila whisky may enjoy.
Laphroaig Whisky provides a bolder smoky profile that complements Caol Ila's whisky characteristics.