Caol Ila distillery

Caol Ila distillery

Caol Ila Distillery is a whisky distillery near Port Askaig on the island of Islay, Scotland. It was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. The name "Caol Ila" is derived from Scottish Gaelic and means "Sound of Islay," referring to the narrow strait between Islay and the neighboring island of Jura.

History

The distillery was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson. In 1854, it was acquired by Norman Buchanan, who also owned the Islay distillery. In 1863, the distillery was taken over by Bulloch Lade & Co. Over the years, the distillery has undergone several changes in ownership and renovations. In 1972, the distillery was completely rebuilt, and today it is owned by Diageo, one of the largest multinational alcoholic beverage companies.

Production

Caol Ila produces a range of single malt whiskies. The distillery sources its water from Loch nam Ban, which is located nearby. The production process includes malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. The distillery has a production capacity of 6.5 million litres of alcohol per year.

Products

Caol Ila is known for its peated whiskies, which have a distinctive smoky flavor. Some of the popular expressions include:

• Caol Ila 12 Year Old
• Caol Ila 18 Year Old
• Caol Ila Distillers Edition
• Caol Ila Moch

Visitor Centre

The distillery has a visitor centre that offers tours and tastings. Visitors can learn about the history of the distillery, the production process, and sample various expressions of Caol Ila whisky.

See also

• List of whisky distilleries in Scotland
• Islay whisky
• Diageo
• Single malt Scotch whisky