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Caol Ila Distillery

Pronounced: cool-EEla the distillery is truly the heart of the community

History

Caol Ila (Gaelic for 'the Sound of Islay') was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson - a Glasgow businessman with a keen interest in distilling. Like Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, the development of Caol Ila created along with it, a community of its own. Without these distilleries, it is likely that there would have been little sustained human presence in these areas of Scotland at all.

The distillery did not fare well, and changed hands in 1854 when Norman Buchanan, owner of the Isle of Jura Distillery, took over.

In 1863 the business was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co, of Glasgow, traders in whisky stocks. By the 1880s over 147,000 gallons of whisky were produced there each year.

In 1920 Bulloch Lade went into voluntary liquidation, and a consortium of businessmen formed the Caol Ila Distillery Company Ltd. In 1927 the Distillers Company Limited acquired a controlling interest in Caol Ila, and in 1930 Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd obtained ownership of all the shares. The company eventually became part of Diageo.

The distillery closed during World War II, from 1941–1945, because of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers. From then, production continued until 1972, when the entire structure of the distillery was demolished. A larger distillery was built in the same original architectural style, and production resumed in 1974.

The Whisky

Caol Ila is considered to be one of the lighter of the Islays. Medium-bodied with a rounded flavour. Pale in colour with a greenish tinge. This malt has a peaty nose, with distinct floral notes. It is described as tasting slighty of seaweed/iodine, lightly medicinal, smoky, salty, sweet with a dry peppery finish

7 items in this collection.

Pronounced: cool-EEla the distillery is truly the heart of the community

History

Caol Ila (Gaelic for 'the Sound of Islay') was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson - a Glasgow businessman with a keen interest in distilling. Like Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich, the development of Caol Ila created along with it, a community of its own. Without these distilleries, it is likely that there would have been little sustained human presence in these areas of Scotland at all.

The distillery did not fare well, and changed hands in 1854 when Norman Buchanan, owner of the Isle of Jura Distillery, took over.

In 1863 the business was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co, of Glasgow, traders in whisky stocks. By the 1880s over 147,000 gallons of whisky were produced there each year.

In 1920 Bulloch Lade went into voluntary liquidation, and a consortium of businessmen formed the Caol Ila Distillery Company Ltd. In 1927 the Distillers Company Limited acquired a controlling interest in Caol Ila, and in 1930 Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd obtained ownership of all the shares. The company eventually became part of Diageo.

The distillery closed during World War II, from 1941–1945, because of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers. From then, production continued until 1972, when the entire structure of the distillery was demolished. A larger distillery was built in the same original architectural style, and production resumed in 1974.

The Whisky

Caol Ila is considered to be one of the lighter of the Islays. Medium-bodied with a rounded flavour. Pale in colour with a greenish tinge. This malt has a peaty nose, with distinct floral notes. It is described as tasting slighty of seaweed/iodine, lightly medicinal, smoky, salty, sweet with a dry peppery finish

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Caol Ila '11 Year Old Natural Cask Strength' Special Release 2024 Single Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Caol Ila

Caol Ila '11 Year Old Natural Cask Strength' Special Release 2024 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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Caol Ila 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt 750mL - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Caol Ila

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt (750mL)

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Caol Ila 15 Year Old 750mL - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Caol Ila Distillery

Caol Ila 15 Year Old (750mL)

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DS Tayman Caol Ila 12 Year Old Second Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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DS Tayman

DS Tayman Caol Ila 12 Year Old Second Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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Gordon & MacPhail 'Discovery' Caol Ila 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail 'Discovery' Caol Ila 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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The Classic Malts Coastal Collection Caol Ila-Clynelish-Talisker Gift Set - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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The Classic Malts

The Classic Malts Coastal Collection Caol Ila-Clynelish-Talisker Gift Set

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Caol Ila 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt 750mL - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Caol Ila Distillery

Caol Ila 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt (750mL)

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