Distillery Thursday: Caol Ila - From Military Base to Icon

Who isn’t familiar with Caol Ila 12? This week, we're journeying to the renowned island of Islay in Scotland. In this Distillery Thursday, we’re recounting the tumultuous history of the Caol Ila distillery.

When you depart mainland Scotland on the ferry headed to Islay, an island beloved by many whisky enthusiasts, you dock at Port Askaig. The island is roughly three and a half times larger than Texel and currently boasts nine active distilleries. On the other side of the water, you see the island of Jura. We won’t venture there this week, as we’ve already visited in Distillery Thursday. This week, we’ill drive north from Port Askaig for about five minutes until we reach the Caol Ila distillery.

Caol Ila boasts a rich, albeit tumultuous, history that dates back to 1846. The distillery was established by Hector Henderson, initially known as the "Caol Ila Distillery Company". Originally, the distillery was meant to serve as a source of whisky for the blenders of the time. Who could have imagined that Caol Ila would evolve into the top-tier distillery it is today?

During its early decades, Caol Ila frequently changes hands. In 1857, the distillery is acquired by Norman Buchanan, but a few years later it is closed due to financial difficulties. In 1863, the doors of Caol Ila reopen under Bulloch Lade & Co, a successful whisky trader. The distillery again shuts down in 1920 due to Prohibition in the United States, but it reopens in 1937 under the name "Caol Ila Distillery Ltd." Translated loosely, the name means the Sound of Islay.

The years of chaos are far from over for the Islay distillery. World War II breaks out and the doors of Caol Ila once again shut. During the war, the Caol Ila facilities are used as a military base for British troops. When the war finally ends, production can resume until a significant renovation and modernization takes place in 1972.

In that year, the entire complex, except for one of the warehouses, is completely demolished and rebuilt. Six new stills and ten new washbacks are installed, substantially increasing production capacity. The renovation completed in 1974, considering the high demand for whisky, turns out to be a smart move by United Distillers, the then owners of Caol Ila. United Distillers has been operating under the name Diageo since 1997.

Today, Caol Ila is one of Diageo's crown jewels, boasting a production capacity of 6.5 million liters of spirit per year. Caol Ila is a staple in Johnny Walker blends, and its core range under the Caol Ila label is well-known among many whisky drinkers. Caol Ila is a distillery with a turbulent history, a bustling present, and a promising future.

Every year, Caol Ila, together with the other Islay distilleries, attracts thousands of visitors to the island. People come for the stunning natural beauty, and of course, the whisky. At Caol Ila, you can take a tour and enjoy a unique tasting. The distillery also has a bar and a shop where you can buy clothing, accessories, and exclusive bottlings. During the Flavour Journey Tour, you take a guided tour through the distillery. On this excursion through various production spaces, the guide engages all your senses. The tour ends at the bar with three flavorful drams and a small cocktail. The Flavour Journey Tour costs approximately 23 euros.

Seasoned Islay visitors may already be familiar with the tour and would likely feel more at home with the Spirit of Smoke Tasting in one of Caol Ila’s maturation warehouses. In this tasting, you will discover five different Caol Ila expressions that are exclusively available for tasting at the distillery. All five whiskies come straight from the cask. This experience costs just under 70 euros, but it's an unforgettable one.

If you are visiting Islay at the end of May, you won't want to miss Fèis Ìle. During this annual Islay whisky festival, the island's distilleries pull out all the stops with special guests, exclusive tastings, and limited editionwhiskies. There are also exhibits and performances featuring music and dance. This year, Caol Ila unveiled a special Fèis Ìle bottling aged 13 years in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks.

The Fèis Ìle festival of 2023 has already passed, but the dates for next year have already been set. The festivities kick off again on Friday, May 24th, 2024 and conclude on Saturday, June 1st. Can't wait until next year or missed out on the 2023 bottling? Thankfully, there are plenty of different Caol Ila whiskies to sample.

Are you familiar with the Turntable whiskies? The Fire Starter bottling, named after The Prodigy's hit song, comprises a considerable portion of Caol Ila. Also, the Smokin’ Riff from the new core range is infused with 27 percent Caol Ila, providing plenty of smokiness.