Caol Ila 10 year old Feis Ile 2018 70cl / 58.2%abv

Caol Ila Distillery.

“Caol ila (pronounced ‘cull-eela’) gaelic for the ‘sound of islay’ can be found on the northeastern shore of Islay (eye-lah). Nestled in a bay 1 mile from Port Askaig. The distillery is hidden from view and perched on the hillside however boasts beautiful views of the Sound of Islay looking over to the Paps of Jura.
Caol Ila was established in 1846 by Glasgow distillery owner Hector Henderson. By 1863 traders Bulloch Lade & Co who improved the site and added the pier and steamships to export whisky to the mainland.
1927 saw the distillery was absorbed into DCL (now Diageo). Caol Ila produced continuously until 1972, when the old distillery was demolished and new and larger distillery was build consolidating Caol Ila as Islay’s largest whisky producer, in time for the 70’s whisky boom. Caol Ila was a large contributor to Johnnie Walkers blends. Throughout the 80s and 90s saw production of peated and unpeated ‘highland style’ whisky for blends until single casks became more popular in early 2000’s.
Hendersons traditional methods are continued today using barley malted locally in Port Ellan and spring water filtered in limestone from Loch nam Burn. Caol Ila underwent renovation, reopening in 2022 representing Caol Ilas regional style.
Today the distillery is open daily at their visitor centre, tours are also available and strongly recommended to book. There is a shop, immersive experience and beautiful café (malts.com Diageo 2024)”