History
The Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by a Glasgow businessman named Hector Henderson. It lies hidden in a picturesque bay on the Sound of Islay. Henderson simultaneously invested in several other distilleries and was also co-owner of the distillery Littlemill in Glasgow.
In 1952, he had to sell Caol Ila but because of financial problems. Even the subsequent owner, Norman Buchanan (already a steward of the distillery Isle of Jura) could hold the Caol Ila distilleries only until 1863.
After that, the Bolloch Lade Co. owner, they built the distillery in 1879 completely and around, but they went in 1920 bankruptcy.
In 1927, the distillery was transferred to the DCL, which handed it back to the SMD in 1930. In the same year Caol Ila was shut down. It was only in 1937 that the Caol Ila distillery resumed production.
The SMD renovated and rebuilt the distillery in the years 1972 to 1974 again completely. Most of the old buildings were demolished and the number of stills increased from two to six in the large new stillhouse. Only an old warehouse was preserved from the old buildings.
Since 1987, Caol Ila is owned by the Scottish company United Distillers & Vinters (UDV) and thus today belongs to the beverage multi Diageo.
|
Meaning of the name |
Sund of Islay |
Whisky-Region |
Islay |
|
Pronunciation |
Kool-Ila |
Status |
In operation |
|
Owner |
Diageo plc |
Capacity per year |
6.400.000 Liter |
|
Address |
Caol Ila Destillery Caol Ila, Port Askaig Isle of Islay PA46 7RL |
Style of the house |
Fumigated: Oily, peaty, tbak, pepper, round, long Slightly pungent: Oily, sweetish, slightly bitter, pepper, seaweed, not very long |
|
Contact |
www.discovering-distilleries.com/caolila +44(0)1496302769 |
Founding year |
1846 |
Production
During construction and renovation in 1972 and 1974, capacity was increased from two to six stills.
The required malt is mainly supplied by the large malting plant Port Ellen Maltings.
From the year 1984, in addition to the normal smoky malt also special lots were made with less smoke content, which is mainly used for the Blendigs own brand Johnnie Walker.
|
1 mash tun (full lauter) |
made of stainless steel |
|
10 wash backs |
8 Douglas spruce and 2 stainless steel (since 2011) |
|
3 wash stills |
large, onion-shaped, without bulges or bulges |
|
3 spirit stills |
large, onion-shaped, without bulges or bulges |
|
Tube capacitors |
stand in the stillhouse |
|
Number of distilling operations |
2 |
|
Water source |
Loch nam Ban |
The Storage
Before the malts are predominantly bottled in ex-bourbon barrels, they are brought by tank truck to the warehouses of Diageo plc on the mainland. In addition to a few sherry casks, other barrel types are used for the finnishings.
Caol Ila 12 years 0,7l - Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Caol Ila Whisky 18 years 0,7l - Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Rarity: Caol Ila Vintage 2001 G&M 0,05l miniature
Caol Ila 15 years Unpeated Limited Release 2018
Rarity: Gordon&MacPhail Set - 3x 0,05l
