Caol Ila 2013 Little Brown Dog 12 year old Unpeated Refill Bourbon Single Islay Malt Whisky 57,3%

Caol Ila usually means smoke and brine in every drop. But once a year the distillery leaves the peat behind, and what comes out the other end almost always disappears straight into a blend. Little Brown Dog caught a rare batch of casks before that could happen.

Expert Description

Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated 12 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two Refill Bourbon Barrels and bottled at 57.3%.

Caol Ila is Islay's largest distillery, usually known for a lightly smoky, maritime style. Since 1999, though, the distillery has occasionally run an unpeated production, and it's exactly this rare unpeated spirit from 2013 that independent bottler Little Brown Dog, based in rural Aberdeenshire, has captured across two Refill Bourbon Barrels. The whisky was filled into cask on 27 December 2013 and bottled on 5 May 2026 after 12 years of maturation, in a small batch of 384 bottles. Little Brown Dog considered a Sherry finish, but deliberately chose to let the whisky stand entirely on its own, with no extra cask influence, so the distillate's own character could speak for itself. A high cutting point during distillation gives a spirit that is unusually elegant, sweet and delicate for Islay – a long way from the heavy, peated style most people associate with Caol Ila.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Pineapple chunks, white clover and candied clementine marmalade – fresh and lightly fruity, without a trace of smoke.

Palate

Passionfruit, creamy custard tart and juicy white grape juice give a sweet, gently creamy fullness.

Finish

Lemon sherbets, elderflower cordial and a touch of sea salt keep the finish fresh and lightly saline.

Specifications

Name: Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated 12 Year Old
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 57.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Two Refill Bourbon Barrels
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27 December 2013
Bottled: 5 May 2026
Number of bottles: 384
Edition: Small Batch

Flavour Profile

Unpeated · Fruity · Creamy · Elegant

Investment Potential

Medium. Unpeated Caol Ila is a rarity in itself, and with only 384 bottles from Little Brown Dog, a bottler that has built a strong reputation among collectors in a short space of time, there's real potential for rising demand as the bottle becomes harder to find.

Did You Know?

Little Brown Dog actually forgot to mention on the label itself that the whisky was unpeated – and had to add a round sticker reading "It's unpeated! No peat!" to every single bottle after the fact.

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Bottled on 12 February 2026 – almost to the day fourteen years after distillation in April 2012. Little Brown Dog chose a refill butt for this batch: the largest standard cask, previously used, working slowly and leaving its subtle signature on the distillate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated 12 Year Old

What makes this Caol Ila special?

It's an unpeated version of a whisky usually known for smoke and peat. Caol Ila only runs a small unpeated production once a year, and most of it ends up in blends rather than being bottled as single malt.

Is Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated worth it?

Yes, the rarity speaks for itself. With only 384 bottles from a high cutting point and no added colour or chill filtration, this is a distillate that rarely makes it to bottle in this form.

How does unpeated Caol Ila taste compared to the standard release?

Far lighter and more fruit-driven. Without the smoke, pineapple, clementine and passionfruit come through clearly, and the result feels closer to a Highland style than the maritime, peated Caol Ila most people know.

Should this whisky be drunk with ice or neat?

Try it neat or with a few drops of water first, since 57.3% can comfortably take a little dilution. Ice mutes the delicate fruit notes that are the whole point of this release.

What's the best glass for Little Brown Dog Caol Ila Unpeated?

A Glencairn glass or another tulip-shaped whisky glass gathers the aromas best, letting the pineapple, white clover and citrus notes separate out. See our range of whisky glasses.

Who is Little Brown Dog?

An independent bottler from Aberdeenshire, founded in 2018 by Andrew Smith and Chris Reid. The name comes from Andrew's dog, who followed him on distillery visits for years and still graces every label.

Why does Caol Ila make an unpeated whisky at all?

The distillery has experimented with unpeated spirit since 1999, as a way of showing off its clean distillate character without the peat dominating. It only happens on a limited scale, which is what makes unpeated Caol Ila bottlings such a rare find.