Est. 1846 • Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, Scotland
Caol Ila
"The easy way into Islay smoke"
About Caol Ila
Caol Ila sits on the Sound of Islay, tucked into the shore below Port Askaig, looking across the water to Jura. Its name is Gaelic for the Sound of Islay, and it is said much like cull-EE-la. It is the biggest distillery on the island, and for years most of what it made went quietly into blended Scotch. As a single malt it is the friendly face of Islay peat: smoky, yes, but fresh and clean with it, all sea spray, lemon and a light oily body rather than the heavy tar of its neighbours to the south. If you have never had a peated whisky before, this is a good place to start.
1846
Founded
175+ yrs
Heritage
Islay
Region
Fresh peat
House style
Discover Caol Ila
Islay peat, made easy
Casks resting near the shore
The Sound of Islay, with Jura across the water
The still house looks straight out to sea
The distillery on the water's edge
New to peat?
Your first smoky whisky
Islay is the home of smoky Scotch, and Caol Ila is the gentlest way in. Before you pour, it helps to know where the smoke comes from and how Islay's distilleries sit together. Start with these two guides.
The Craft
What makes Caol Ila the approachable Islay malt
Water Source
Loch nam Ban
Water runs down from the hill loch above the distillery to the still house on the shore
The Smoke
Peated, but restrained
Made from peated malt, though carried more lightly than the heavily peated malts of Islay's south coast
Fresh and clean: sea spray, smoked lemon and a light oily body rather than heavy tar
Copper Stills
Large and tall
A large still house with tall stills, giving a light, fresh spirit at real volume
What Makes Caol Ila Special
Islay's largest distillery, long the quiet workhorse behind famous blends
An approachable, everyday peated malt, the gateway to Islay smoke
Also bottles unpeated Highland-style expressions for those who want the fresh spirit without the smoke
The Collection
Browse the Caol Ila bottles we stock and find where to buy
How to Drink It
Caol Ila is an easy pour, smoky enough to be interesting but light enough to enjoy long
Caol Ila highball
A measure over plenty of ice, topped with cold soda water and a wedge of lemon. Long, fresh and lightly smoky, an easy summer pour.
Neat, with a drop of water
A small pour in a tulip glass, a few drops of water to open it up. The smoke softens and the citrus and sea-salt notes come forward.
Getting There
Plan your journey to the Sound of Islay
By Air
Islay Airport (ILY)
About 30 minutes by car
Daily flights from Glasgow
By Ferry
Kennacraig to Port Askaig
About 2 hours crossing
CalMac Ferries
From Glasgow
Around 3 hours to Kennacraig, then the ferry
Roughly 5 to 6 hours in total
Travel Tips
- •Book the ferry well ahead, especially in summer
- •The distillery sits below Port Askaig on a steep, narrow road, so take it slowly
- •Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain are close neighbours, so it is easy to pair the two
Plan Your Visit
The visitor centre sits right on the shore, with the still house looking straight across the Sound of Islay to Jura
Booking ahead is recommended
Nearby Distilleries
Explore more of Islay's whisky trail
💡 Tip: Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain share the same corner of Islay, so it is easy to visit both in a day.
On the Sound of Islay
More than 175 years on the shore
Caol Ila founded by Hector Henderson on the shore below Port Askaig
Caol Ila founded by Hector Henderson on the shore below Port Askaig
The distillery passes to Bulloch Lade & Co, who expand the site
The distillery passes to Bulloch Lade & Co, who expand the site
Caol Ila comes under the ownership that would become part of today's Diageo
Caol Ila comes under the ownership that would become part of today's Diageo
The distillery is largely rebuilt, with a big new still house looking out to sea
The distillery is largely rebuilt, with a big new still house looking out to sea
An official Caol Ila 12 Year Old single malt is released, giving the malt its own name
An official Caol Ila 12 Year Old single malt is released, giving the malt its own name
A dedicated visitor centre opens on the shore of the Sound of Islay
A dedicated visitor centre opens on the shore of the Sound of Islay
Start With Caol Ila
Add Caol Ila bottles to your cabinet, keep your tasting notes, and find your way into Islay smoke.