Sound of Islay

The name of Caol Ila means "Sound of Islay" in Gaelic. Caol Ila was built in 1846 and is now owned by Diaego. It is a member of Classic Malts of Diageo. Caol Ila is one of the highest output distilleries among Diageo group attributed by its annual production in pure alcohol count of 3,700,000 liters. Caol Ila is also ranked the top in production capacity on Islay.

As most of the output of Caol Ila goes to blended whiskies and obviously, the flagship blends of Diageo, Johnnie Walker that the single malt bottlings are uncommon in the market. Let's try a Caol Ila's basic bottling as an introduction to this distillery.

Caol Ila 12 years, 1 ltr., 43%

Nose: Honeydew peel, oyster, metal, sea weed, sea breeze, hints of vanilla and honey
Palate: Honeydew, nutty, clam, charcoal, sea water
Aftertaste: Medium length, charcoal, sea water
Overall: Imagine that you are standing in front of an oyster stall by the shore and watching the fishermen opening oysters with metal dagger, yes, exactly that smell if you were there. Take a dram, just feel like a pot of clam soup cooking over pit fire. Light and soft ocean elements continue in aftertaste. This whisky is not the islander which is emphasized in peat and smoke but rather trended to coastal favour. It is not a complex and layered whisky but shows softness in every aspect. It is an easy-going island dram indeed.

In the fact that the majority of stocks of Caol Ila are not ageing in the local warehouse. New spirit is filled in stainless tank and transported to the warehouse in mainland of Scotland for ageing. Caol Ila's coastal favour is coming from the raw materials such as peated malt and water sources, rather than its island counterparts which favoured by immersion of sea breeze during the ageing by the sea.