Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Gift Box)

Caol Ila Whisky is located in the Islay region of Scotland, United Kingdom. It is the largest of the eight distilleries on Islay and is now a whisky brand owned by Diageo, the world's largest spirits company.

In 1846, Hector Henderson, owner of a distillery in Glasgow, established Caol Ila on Islay. The distillery stands alone on the northeast coast of Islay, across from Jura Island. In 1854, due to poor management, Caol Ila was acquired by Norman Buchanan, the owner of the Isle of Jura Distillery. In 1863, with the rise in popularity of blended whisky, the whisky merchant Bulloch Lade & Co purchased Caol Ila. Over the next 20 years, Caol Ila changed hands three times while undergoing reconstruction and expansion. By 1879, Caol Ila had its own dock, where steamships unloaded goods and loaded Caol Ila whisky for distribution to inland regions.

In 1920, Bulloch Lade & Co. went into liquidation and was acquired by J.P. O'Brien Ltd., which in turn sold the Caol Ila distillery to Caol Ila Distillery Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Robertson & Baxter Ltd., in the same year. In 1927, the distillery company gained full ownership of Caol Ila. In 1941, due to restrictions on manpower and barley supply during World War II, Caol Ila was forced to cease operations. After the war, Caol Ila’s production gradually increased. By 1972, Caol Ila had six stills for whisky production. In 1974, the rise in popularity of blended whisky once again had a significant impact on Caol Ila's fate. To meet the growing demand, Caol Ila underwent a complete reconstruction and became the largest distillery on Islay. Ultimately, Caol Ila was acquired by Diageo.

Since 1974, Caol Ila has been purchasing malt from Port Ellen as raw material for whisky production at its distillery. This malt is dried using peat-fired kilns on the island of Islay. The whisky produced using Port Ellen malt has a distinctly different style compared to Caol Ila's previous offerings. Compared to the previous whiskies, these whiskies are lighter and clearer. Currently, Caol Ila has three wash stills with a capacity of 19,000 litres and three spirit stills with a capacity of 12,000 litres. Although these stills were built later, they perfectly replicate the older stills, maintaining their pear-shaped design. On Islay, Caol Ila has a three-storey warehouse for storing most of its aged whisky. However, most of the whisky produced by the distillery is now shipped to inland regions for ageing and bottling in warehouses in Glasgow. Caol Ila's whisky is typically aged in either bourbon or sherry casks. These whiskies can be aged in oak casks for many years, developing excellent flavours through the ageing process.

Caol Ila 12 Years Old Islay Single Malt Whisky is exceptionally fresh, featuring sweet fruit notes and a smooth body. This 12-year-old peated whisky masterfully balances various flavours. The fresh, appetising aroma reveals subtle citrus fruit notes, with only a hint of smokiness. Robust yet smooth, this 12-year-old peated whisky begins with a sweetness that gives way to aromatic smoky notes and a lingering, sweet smoky finish.