The sound between Islay and Jura lies like a ribbon of cold grey water, and right there – facing the current – stands Caol Ila looking across towards Jura's peaks. This is where the smoke comes from: not the heavy, tarry south-island smoke, but something lighter, saltier, more maritime. This bottle is an older release from the 1990s: one litre with a yellow banderole.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 12 Years 1 litre OLD VERSION is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43% – a rare older version in a litre bottle with a yellow banderole from the 1990s.

Caol Ila has produced a 12-year expression under changing owners since the 1970s, and the litre format was for many years part of the classic duty and export bottlings. This version with the yellow banderole is discontinued and carries a design from an era nothing like the current Caol Ila bottle.

The distillery sits at Port Askaig on Islay's north-east coast. It was demolished and rebuilt from scratch in 1972, with production resuming in 1974. Malt comes from Port Ellen Maltings at around 30-35 ppm. Maturation is primarily in refill ex-bourbon casks, giving the light colour and clean, fresh character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and maritime. Lemon peel and green apple first, then a breath of soft peat smoke, seaweed and a hint of almond oil. Freshly cut grass and a faint sweetness in the background.

Palate

Good oily texture. Elegant smoke, tar and boiled sweets with citrus zest and a salted, briny edge. Pepper and a lightly medicinal note recalling Islay's heritage.

Finish

Long and peppery. The smoke becomes more ashy towards the end, with lemon, lime and a soft sweetness settling in.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 12 Years 1 litre OLD VERSION
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon casks
Edition: OLD VERSION – yellow banderole, 1990s
EAN no.: 5000281019390

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Citrus · Oily

Investment potential

Low to Medium. The discontinued litre bottle with yellow banderole has collector appeal – the format and 1990s design rarely appear on the market.

Did you know?

Caol Ila means 'Sound of Islay' in Gaelic – the very strait the distillery overlooks towards Jura. The view from the still house across the Paps of Jura is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Scottish whisky country.

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A moderately smoky classic from the sound that gives the distillery its name.

Expert description

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Islay Malt Whisky is the distillery's official age-stated core expression, matured for at least 12 years, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 on the shore of the Sound of Islay, from which the distillery also takes its name — Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay'. The distillery is today owned by Diageo and is one of Islay's largest producers, although much of its output has traditionally gone into blended whisky such as Johnnie Walker. Despite its peated character, Caol Ila is often somewhat lighter and more elegant than several of Islay's other distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is smoky with sea breeze, citrus and a hint of grain.

Palate

The palate offers smoke, citrus and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, smoky and fairly gentle.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 12 år Single Islay Malt Whisky
Distillery: Caol Ila
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Single Islay Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Citrus-forward · Elegant

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Gordon & MacPhail created the Discovery Range as a gateway to three styles: Sherry, Bourbon and Smoky. Caol Ila is – as one would expect – the Smoky expression. Thirteen years and 43% mean the smoke is accessible and rounded rather than edgy.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 13 Years Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 43% – the third line in the Discovery Range series under the Smoky theme.

Gordon & MacPhail from Elgin is one of the world's oldest and most respected independent bottlers, founded in 1895. The Discovery Range is the company's most approachable series – created to give new and existing whisky drinkers access to classic regional characters without compromise.

Thirteen years in oak casks have given this Caol Ila a rounded, accessible smoke profile. It retains the distillery's maritime signature, but the lower strength of 43% makes it easy to enjoy without adding water.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh maritime notes lead – sea salt and seaweed. Then light peat smoke with citrus and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Round and accessible. Smoke and freshness dominate with a light fruit sweetness and good balance. Lightly spiced with pepper in the tail.

Finish

Moderate and clean. The smoke recedes gently with a maritime trace and a lightness that invites another sip.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 13 Years Gordon & MacPhail The Discovery Range
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Series: The Discovery Range – Smoky
EAN no.: 5020613067660

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Approachable · Lightly Spiced

Did you know?

Since 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has stored casks from distilleries that have long since closed. The company holds some of the world's oldest active whisky stocks and has bottled whiskies over 80 years old.

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Once a year, Caol Ila does something unexpected: they stop the peat and malt barley with untouched grain. The result is Caol Ila Unpeated Style – a window into what the distillery tastes like once smoke is taken out of the equation.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 15 Years Unpeated Style 2018 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled in 2018 at cask strength 59.1% – one of the distillery's rarest official releases. Here the barley has been malted without peat.

Unpeated Style is a limited annual release Diageo has produced since the early 2000s, primarily for the Feis Ile festival on Islay. The 2018 edition shows what 15 years in oak casks gives to a distillate not defined by smoke.

Without peat smoke, Caol Ila's true distillate character emerges – flowers, vanilla, fresh fruit and richness from maturation. It is a different Caol Ila from the one people know, and for those accustomed to the island's smoke, it can feel almost foreign. That is precisely what makes it fascinating.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral and fruity – apple, pear and white flowers. Vanilla and honey from the oak, with a creamy sweetness that has no parallel in the peated bottlings.

Palate

Rich and full without smoke's structure. Ripe fruit – peach, apricot – with soft oak and an almost diaphanous sweetness. Cask strength gives warmth and depth.

Finish

Long and slightly exotic. Vanilla, ripe fruits and a note of floral honey – completely unlike the familiar biting close of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 15 Years Unpeated Style 2018
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 59.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Bottled: 2018
EAN no.: 5000281051666

Flavour profile

Floral · Fruity · Creamy · Rich · Unpeated

Investment potential

Low to Medium. Caol Ila Unpeated Style is a limited and discontinued official release from Diageo. The 2018 edition is sought by collectors following Caol Ila's rarer bottlings and has largely left the market.

Did you know?

Caol Ila typically produces 3.3 million litres of pure alcohol per year. The unpeated edition accounts for only a tiny fraction – malted in the same mill as the peated versions but with grain that has never touched peat.

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1991 was an unusual year to distil Caol Ila. The distillery had just gone through a modernisation and found its current style. Ian MacLeod's Chieftains series took a cask from that year and gave it a finish in German oak – before it was bottled in 2009.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 1991/2009 Chieftains 18 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a German oak cask (cask no. 91821), bottled at 48% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 288 bottles.

Chieftains is Ian MacLeod's series for independent single-cask bottlings from Scottish distilleries. Ian MacLeod Distillers – owners of Glengoyne and Tamdhu – have had their finger on the pulse of Scotch whisky since 1933.

German oak (Quercus Robur) is denser and gives more tannin and spice than American oak casks. It gives a spicy finish to a Caol Ila that is otherwise elegant and balanced – light tobacco smoke, sea salt, citrus and green apples with well-integrated smoke.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light tobacco smoke, sea salt and seaweed combined with citrus and green apples. A subtle sweet malt profile and a hint of spice from the German oak.

Palate

Soft and complex. Dry mineral smoke and pleasant sweetness in balance. Citrus, pear and lemon complemented by honey, vanilla and a touch of salty liquorice. The smoke is elegant and well-integrated.

Finish

Long, clean and persistent – fresh smoke, light salt and a rounded fruity sweetness blending with malt and spice from the German oak.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 1991/2009 Chieftains 18 Years German Oak Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Ian MacLeod Distillers (Chieftains)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 years
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – finished in German oak (cask no. 91821)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 03/1991
Bottled: 05/2009
Number of bottles: 288
Series: Chieftains

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Elegant · Spiced · Complex

Investment potential

High. An 18-year Caol Ila from 1991 with 288 bottles, bottled in 2009, is discontinued and rare. Products from this period are sought by collectors.

Did you know?

Ian MacLeod Distillers is one of Scotland's oldest family-owned whisky companies, founded in 1933. They today own Glengoyne Distillery in the Lowlands and Tamdhu in Speyside – and operate the Chieftains series as a window into other distilleries.

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In December 2009, new make spirit ran into a bourbon hogshead at Caol Ila. The cask sat for thirteen years, and when Signatory Vintage opened it again in May 2023, only 276 bottles came out. That kind of bottling is a reminder that whisky is time.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2009/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky from a single bourbon hogshead (cask no. 322858), bottled at cask strength 57.5% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 276 bottles.

Signatory Vintage is one of Scotland's most experienced independent bottlers and has operated Edradour Distillery since 2002. The Cask Strength Collection is the purest line – single casks bottled directly without dilution. 276 bottles is all this cask gave.

Caol Ila supplies its distillate primarily to Diageo's blends, which is precisely why single-cask bottlings like this are rare and sought after. Thirteen years in bourbon oak have produced a Caol Ila with more concentration and depth than the official range.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sea salt and seaweed open, followed by vanilla and honey from the bourbon wood. Smoky toffee and citrus peel underline the age.

Palate

Rich and concentrated. Smoke, salty liquorice and fruity sweetness – apricot and papaya – alternate with soft oak. Cask strength calls for a drop of water.

Finish

Long and warming. Smoke persists with dried herbs and a hint of dark chocolate in the tail.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2009/2023 Signatory Vintage 13 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 57.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – bourbon hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 08/12/2009
Bottled: 24/05/2023
Number of bottles: 276
Series: Cask Strength Collection
EAN no.: 5021944123209

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Toffee · Fruity · Powerful

Did you know?

Since 1988, Signatory Vintage has bottled over 4,000 single casks from more than 20 Scottish distilleries. They have owned Edradour – the smallest distillery in the Scottish Highlands – since 2002.

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Nine years is enough time to let peat smoke settle in. Hepburns Choice matured this Caol Ila in bourbon casks and finished it in a sherry butt – the classic double maturation, a reminder that it is the combination of time and wood that shapes a whisky.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon casks with a sherry butt finish, bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 797 bottles.

Hepburns Choice is a series from Langside Distillers – a Scottish independent bottler specialising in single-cask bottlings from a wide range of distilleries. The series is named after the Scottish whisky enthusiast and writer Hepburn.

The bourbon cask provided the structural base – vanilla and fresh fruit – and the sherry butt added the winey layer on top: raisins, honey and spice. Caol Ila's smoke binds it all together.

Tasting notes

Nose

A soft opening with bourbon sweetness and light sherry fruit, behind which Caol Ila's salty smoke and seaweed wait. Raisins and a hint of cloves.

Palate

Soft and balanced. Bourbon vanilla and sherry fruit meet peat smoke and a touch of salt. Good body and light preserved-fruit notes from the finish.

Finish

Medium-length with persistent smoke and a sweet sherry close that slowly fades.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2010/2020 Hepburns Choice 9 Years Sherry Butt Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Langside Distillers (Hepburns Choice)
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks with sherry butt finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 797
Series: Hepburns Choice
EAN no.: 5060354272848

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Creamy · Balanced

Did you know?

A sherry butt is the largest standard cask in Scotch whisky tradition, holding around 500 litres against a standard bourbon hogshead's 250. The larger cask gives a slower and more subtle influence, which is why sherry butts are used for finishing.

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An independent bottler puts the spotlight on Caol Ila's distillate from a single vintage.

Expert description

Caol Ila 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is an independent bottling from Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2021 after 10 years of maturation, bottled at 43%. Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 on the shore of the Sound of Islay, from which the distillery also takes its name — Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay'. The distillery is today owned by Diageo and is one of Islay's largest producers, although much of its output has traditionally gone into blended whisky such as Johnnie Walker. Despite its peated character, Caol Ila is often somewhat lighter and more elegant than several of Islay's other distilleries.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose is smoky with sea breeze, citrus and a hint of grain.

Palate

The palate offers smoke, citrus and light sweetness.

Finish

The finish is medium to long, smoky and fairly gentle.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2010/2021 Signatory Vintage 10 år Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
Distilled: 2010
Bottled: 2021
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Smoky · Maritime · Citrus-forward · Elegant

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Caol Ila's peat smoke and the dried-fruit sweetness of a sherry butt pull in different directions – but they find each other. Hunter Laing selected this Oloroso sherry butt for the Old Malt Cask series, and after 13 years the result shows exactly what a well-matched cask marriage can produce.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2010/2023 Old Malt Cask 13 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single Oloroso sherry butt, bottled at 50% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Hunter Laing & Co. is one of Scotland's most respected independent whisky families, with roots in Glasgow since 1949. Old Malt Cask is the company's classic series – single casks, natural colour, always at 50%. This cask yielded 769 bottles, distilled in August 2010 and bottled in October 2023.

Caol Ila on an Oloroso sherry butt is not the obvious choice – the distillery uses primarily bourbon casks for its official range. The sherry cask adds a layer of dried fruit and chocolate that softens the smoke and brings winey depth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sherry-dried fruit – raisins and plums – meets Caol Ila's typical salty smoke. A hint of dark chocolate in the background.

Palate

Soft and full. Smoke is present but tamed by the sherry cask. Dried figs, cloves and salted-caramel sweetness make it complex without heaviness.

Finish

Moderately long. Smoke fades gently with dried fruit and a light touch of bitter dark chocolate at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2010/2023 Old Malt Cask 13 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – Oloroso sherry butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: August 2010
Bottled: October 2023
Number of bottles: 769
Series: Old Malt Cask
EAN no.: 5060354285510

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Creamy · Spiced

Did you know?

Hunter Laing & Co. is one of the few independent bottling families in Scotland remaining under the same family ownership since its founding. The company also operates Ardnahoe Distillery – Islay's newest distillery, opened in 2019.

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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.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2026 Little Brown Dog Spirits 13 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single refill butt cask, bottled at 55.7% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Little Brown Dog is a British independent bottler with a single-cask focus. For this batch they chose a refill butt – a 500-litre cask that has already matured whisky and retained a discreet, oxidised wood influence. That is where the 'wonderfully oxidised' character described by tasters comes from.

The result is a whisky with classic Caol Ila freshness and salty maritime peat smoke, wrapped in a lightly oxidised, nutty-complex structure. Wax candle, driftwood bonfire and sea urchin are tasting descriptions that reflect a product of precise, controlled craft.

Tasting notes

Nose

Wax candle and a driftwood bonfire on the beach – fresh and light with clear Islay smoke. Toasted grain, a touch of seaweed and a soft, oxidised depth.

Palate

Toasted almonds and sea urchin – umami-rich and salty with smoke and a 'dirty martini' oily character. Complex but harmonious and easy to drink.

Finish

Fresh and lively: gorse, clear saltiness and maritime peat smoke that stays light and elegant throughout.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2026 Little Brown Dog 13 Years Refill Butt
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Little Brown Dog Spirits
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 55.7%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill butt
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 10/04/2012
Bottled: 12/02/2026

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Oxidised · Umami-rich · Fresh

Did you know?

A butt is the largest standard cask in Scotch whisky maturation at around 500 litres – double a hogshead. The large cask gives more whisky per wood surface area, ensuring a softer and more gradual wood development over many years.

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James Eadie is a Worcestershire-based independent bottler with a single aim: to find casks that say something interesting. For this batch of Caol Ila from 2012, they chose refill bourbon casks and made a small batch – a blended vatting delivering more consistency than a single cask.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2020 James Eadie 8 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill bourbon casks (small batch), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

James Eadie is an independent bottler from Worcestershire, England, founded by Tristan Eadie as a revival of the family's historic whisky trade from the 19th century. Their small batch approach combines casks for consistency and accessibility over single-cask variation.

Refill bourbon casks give a discreet wood influence that lets the distillate's own character come through. For Caol Ila at 8 years, that means clean, fresh and maritime smoke – toffee, sea mist and green apples.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toffee, sea mist and green apples – fresh and direct with a clear note of Caol Ila's peat smoke. No heavy wood influence, just the distillate's own voice.

Palate

Light and fresh. Smoke, fresh citrus and a soft toffee sweetness. Good balance for the age – accessible and clean.

Finish

Relatively short but clean. Smoke and salt with a fresh, green close.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2020 James Eadie 8 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: James Eadie
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill bourbon casks (small batch)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2020
EAN no.: 5060485430926

Flavour profile

Peated · Fresh · Fruity · Toffee · Maritime

Did you know?

James Eadie's ancestor William Eadie ran one of London's most respected whisky merchants in the 19th century. Tristan Eadie revived the company name in 2020 as a tribute to the family's heritage.

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Most people associate Caol Ila with bourbon or sherry. Lady of the Glen chose an ex-white wine cask – and it turns out Islay smoke handles itself surprisingly well alongside the light, fresh wine residue. 307 bottles from cask no. 311196.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2021 Lady of the Glen 9 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single ex-white wine cask (no. 311196), bottled at cask strength 58.3% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Lady of the Glen is an Edinburgh-based independent bottler founded by Gregor Hannah. The philosophy is single cask, cask strength and no compromises. White wine casks are unusual in whisky – lighter and fresher than sherry casks, they add a delicate fruitiness rather than vinous weight.

Nine years in a white wine cask from 2012 gives a Caol Ila that keeps its maritime smoke but adds an unexpected freshness and fruitiness. 307 bottles is all that exists.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and surprising – light citrus fruit and white flowers meet Caol Ila's salty smoke. A clear contrast between the heavy distillate and the light cask.

Palate

Smoke and freshness in balance. Citrus, fresh pear and maritime notes with good body. The white wine cask gives unexpected lightness without removing Caol Ila's signature.

Finish

Medium-length with fresh smoke and a clean, lightly winey note at the end. Cleaner and lighter than most Caol Ila bottlings.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2021 Lady of the Glen 9 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 58.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – ex-white wine cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 307

Flavour profile

Peated · Fresh · Fruity · Maritime · Light

Did you know?

Lady of the Glen is named after the ballad poem 'The Lady of the Lake' by Sir Walter Scott from 1810 – a tribute to Scotland and its nature. The bottler works exclusively with single cask and cask strength.

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Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is exactly what it says: whisky bottled without chill filtration, in its natural form. From hogsheads 319473 and 319477, distilled in June 2012 and bottled in February 2022 – nine years and eight months in oak.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in two hogshead casks (nos. 319473 and 319477), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is the accessible line – a step lower in strength than the Cask Strength Collection, but with the same philosophy: selected casks, natural colour and no manipulation. The result is a whisky you can enjoy neat without adding water.

Caol Ila's maritime smoke at 46% is balanced and light. The hogshead casks from 2012 have given nine years of oak structure – classic Caol Ila with good body.

Tasting notes

Nose

Classic Caol Ila: sea salt, light peat smoke and citrus. A soft vanilla undertone from the hogshead casks and a hint of seaweed.

Palate

Balanced and light. Smoke, maritime notes and a little honey. Body and freshness in good harmony – accessible and clean.

Finish

Moderate and fresh. Smoke fades gently with citrus and salt carrying through.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 9 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 28/06/2012
Bottled: 03/02/2022
EAN no.: 5021944116140

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Citrus · Balanced

Did you know?

Chill filtration removes the fatty acids and proteins that give whisky its body and flavour intensity. Bottling without chill filtration preserves these – which is why many collectors and enthusiasts specifically seek 'non chill-filtered' bottlings.

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Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection is about letting the whisky stand on its own. Ten years in a hogshead, 46% and no chill filtration. It has one chance to impress – and it uses it.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in hogshead casks, bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Signatory Vintage's Un-Chillfiltered Collection presents selected casks from Scottish distilleries at an accessible strength without compromise on bottling principles. Ten years in a hogshead gives a Caol Ila with more depth than young bottlings without losing the characteristic freshness.

Compared to the 9-year (R65), this is one year older – which in practice gives a little more oak depth and a calmer, more integrated smoke. The profile is otherwise the same classic Caol Ila: salty, maritime and balanced.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sea salt, light peat smoke and citrus with a soft vanilla undertone. A hint of seaweed and fresh oak.

Palate

Balanced and clean. Smoke, maritime notes, honey and a mild maltiness. Good body for 46% – well-made and accessible.

Finish

Moderate and fresh. Citrus, salt and a discreet smoke that fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2012/2022 Signatory Vintage 10 Years The Un-Chillfiltered Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2022
EAN no.: 5021944120420

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Fresh · Balanced · Approachable

Did you know?

Signatory Vintage owns Edradour Distillery in Pitlochry, Perthshire – one of Scotland's smallest distilleries. It still runs by hand and produces fewer than 12 casks a week, while Signatory bottles many times more from external distilleries.

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Adelphi tests around 25 casks for every one they approve. That is not accidental. Alex Bruce and Charles Maclean sit with samples and ask: is this exceptional? Fewer than four per cent of the casks offered to them get a yes. This Caol Ila cask from 2013 was one of them.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2013/2021 Adelphi Selection 8 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single bourbon cask (no. 300371), bottled at cask strength 58.4% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 324 bottles.

Adelphi Selection is an Edinburgh-based independent bottler with roots in a distilling dynasty going back to 1826. The same principle always applies: only the casks that truly impress make it into a bottle bearing Adelphi's name. The bourbon cask produced a clean, classic Caol Ila expression – maritime notes, peat smoke and a touch of sweetness.

The high cask strength of 58.4% and 324 bottles make this a rare bottling for those who want Caol Ila without compromise.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and maritime with peat smoke upfront. Salty sea air, light citrus and a soft vanilla note from the bourbon wood. Fresh and direct.

Palate

Concentrated and salty. Smoke, citrus and good body. The bourbon sweetness is present but understated – Caol Ila's maritime notes dominate.

Finish

Long and warm with persistent smoke and a lightly peppery dryness. Add a drop of water for more openness.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2013/2021 Adelphi Selection 8 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Adelphi Selection
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 58.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – bourbon cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 324

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Salty · Fresh · Concentrated

Did you know?

Adelphi Selection is named after the Adelphi Distillery in Edinburgh, which closed in 1902. The company was revived by a descendant of the original distilling family and is today one of Scotland's most selective independent bottlers.

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Cask 319952 leaked. Lady of the Glen discovered that when they opened the bonded warehouse in 2025 – this refill hogshead with Caol Ila from 2013 had lost a significant portion of its content to the Scottish angels. What remained was 123 bottles and the concentrated essence of eleven Islay years.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2013/2025 Lady of the Glen 11 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single cask – refill hogshead (cask no. 319952) – bottled at 56.6% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 123 bottles.

Lady of the Glen is a Scottish independent bottler focusing on single-cask bottlings from carefully selected casks. The philosophy is simple: selection, not production. Each cask is assessed on its own merits, which is reflected in the small number of bottles per bottling.

A leaking cask is not a mistake – it is geology. The wood breathes, the surroundings pull, and the angels' share is never precisely predictable. The 123 remaining bottles are what it took eleven years and a particular piece of Islay air to produce.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh peat smoke and seaweed, behind which a soft vanilla and citrus from the refill cask. A hint of green apple and toasted oak.

Palate

Oily and full. Salted caramel, lemon and smoke in good harmony. The distillate's power at 56.6% gives body and depth – a drop of water opens it further.

Finish

Long and persistent – ash, freshly ground pepper and citrus peel that slowly fade to a lightly salted close.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2013/2025 Lady of the Glen 11 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 56.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill hogshead (cask no. 319952)
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2013
Bottled: 2025
Number of bottles: 123

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Maritime · Oily · Intense

Investment potential

Low

Did you know?

The angels' share – what evaporates through the cask's pores – typically amounts to 2-4% of the cask's contents per year in Scotland. Over eleven years, a leaking cask can lose far more. Cask 319952 was one such – and the 123 bottles are the result.

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Little Brown Dog puts a large blue lobster on the label. That is not accidental – the lobster's shell, the salt water and the characteristic coastal scent are exactly what they want to evoke. Caol Ila 2014, a refill Oloroso sherry hogshead and 306 bottles. That is all there is.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014 Little Brown Dog Spirits is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single refill Oloroso sherry hogshead, bottled at 56.3% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 306 bottles.

Little Brown Dog Spirits is a British independent bottler working with single-cask bottlings focused on rarity and character. Each product has its own label reflecting the whisky – the lobster was made for this batch of Caol Ila.

A refill Oloroso sherry hogshead gives a discreet sherry influence – the cask has already been used and carries primarily traces of the dry, nutty Oloroso. Combined with Caol Ila's smoke and saltiness, it creates a complex and layered profile.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sea salt, brine and a subtle smouldering bonfire – a classic coastal feeling. Behind: Lapsang Souchong tea, citrus and bog myrtle. The Oloroso cask gives a soft, nutty depth.

Palate

Complex and umami-rich. Smoke, sea note, lemon and a tea-like bitterness balanced by the cask's residual sweetness. Fig and smoked spice in the background.

Finish

Elegant and long – delicate pepper, sea salt and a peat that fades without haste.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014 Little Brown Dog Oloroso Sherry Hogshead
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Little Brown Dog Spirits
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: Distilled 2014
ABV: 56.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill Oloroso sherry hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Number of bottles: 306

Flavour profile

Peated · Oloroso · Maritime · Umami-rich · Elegant

Did you know?

Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is a wild plant along Scottish coasts and bogs, releasing an aromatic resin reminiscent of rosemary and bay leaf. It appears in coastal whiskies' aromas without ever being added – it is the air and soil that settle into the cask.

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Pedro Ximenez is the sweetest sherry that exists – thick, dark and almost syrupy. When Caol Ila's peat smoke encounters seven months in PX hogsheads, the result is surprisingly subtle: the sweetness works its way into the smoke and gives it a fruity, dried dimension.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogshead casks with a finish in Ximenez-Spinola PX sherry hogshead casks (nos. 2005618/19/23), bottled at 46% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series is an experimental line that systematically explores cask combinations in larger batches. The PX finish here lasts seven months – short enough to preserve Caol Ila's character, long enough for the Spanish dessert wine to leave its mark.

1,242 bottles were produced. Ximenez-Spinola is one of the most acclaimed PX houses in Jerez, and it is from them that Murray McDavid sourced these casks.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried fruit – raisins and dark plums – blends with Caol Ila's maritime smoke. A note of mocha and orange peel gives depth.

Palate

Delicate and fruity. Smoke and PX sweetness find each other in good balance. Mocha, dark dried fruit and a soft, lightly oily texture.

Finish

Gentle and lingering. Smoke and sweetness fade side by side with a fresh note of smoke and fruit at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark – PX Sherry Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead with PX sherry hogshead finish
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1,242
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302669

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · PX-sweet · Delicate · Maritime

Did you know?

The Pedro Ximenez grape is grown in the Jerez region of Spain and is one of the world's sweetest and most concentrated varieties. The wines produced from it are so thick they almost pour like syrup.

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The world of Cognac and Islay whisky rarely meet – they pull in very different directions. But Murray McDavid found a cask that made them listen to each other: a bourbon hogshead with a finish in first-fill Cognac casks, and Caol Ila's smoke blending with the French spirit's sweetness.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon hogshead casks with a finish in first-fill Cognac casks (nos. 1925785/193/194), bottled at 50% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series systematically experiments with unusual cask combinations in larger batches. This batch produced 1,694 bottles. The 14-month finish in Cognac casks contributes a sweet, lightly winey complexity lifting it above a simple bourbon profile.

Caol Ila at six years is fresh and direct – the smoke is clear, the distillate body is present, and the Cognac finish adds a sweeter frame without erasing the distillate's maritime character.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet and smoky at once. Sweet peat, ginger and apple – the Cognac cask adds a lightly fruity glow behind Caol Ila's typical maritime smoke.

Palate

Soft and fruity with good body. Caramel and smoke meet notes of ginger and apple. The Cognac sweetness is discreet but notable.

Finish

Clean and fresh with salted caramel and a light medicinal Caol Ila note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2021 Murray McDavid 6 Years Benchmark – 1st Fill Cognac Cask Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon hogshead with finish in 1st fill Cognac casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 1,694
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353302683

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Sweet · Creamy · Fresh

Did you know?

Cognac casks are rare in whisky – they come from France and have typically held grape spirit for many years. Their nutty and fruity profile lends a completely different wininess than sherry or port casks.

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Pauillac is Bordeaux at its finest – Lafite, Mouton, Latour. When casks from one of the world's most celebrated wine regions meet Caol Ila's Islay smoke, something unexpected happens: the powerful wine residue in the wood gives a peaty and fruity note rarely found at the distillery.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2014/2022 Murray McDavid 8 Years Benchmark Series is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in Pauillac wine casks, bottled at 50% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 1,399 bottles.

Pauillac casks come from the Pauillac wine district in Bordeaux – home to Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and Latour. The casks are laden with red Bordeaux wine and add tannin-rich, fruity and slightly earthy notes to spirits that have rested in them.

Murray McDavid's Benchmark Series puts the distillate's character at the centre and finds casks that lift it without overpowering it. Eight years and 50% in Pauillac casks give a Caol Ila with an unexpected winey depth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoke and dark fruit – blueberry and cherry from the wine cask, with Caol Ila's salty maritime smoke in the background. A hint of earth and tannins.

Palate

Smoke and wine sweetness in good balance. Dark berry fruit, salt and a touch of Bordeaux tannins. Good body at 50%.

Finish

Peat and fruit alternate in a medium-length finish with a light, dried fruit note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2014/2022 Murray McDavid 8 Years Benchmark – Pauillac Wine Casks
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Pauillac wine casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2014
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,399
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353303567

Flavour profile

Peated · Winey · Dark Fruit · Fresh · Tannic

Did you know?

Pauillac is home to three of the world's five classified Premier Cru chateaux in Bordeaux. Casks that have held wines from these estates are rare and highly sought after in the whisky world.

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When new, unused oak meets Caol Ila's already robust smoke profile, something unexpected happens: instead of cancelling each other out, they pull in the same direction. Wilson & Morgan used Virgin Oak casks as a finish on this 8-year expression, and the result is a Caol Ila with a forceful character that surprises.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2015/2023 Wilson & Morgan 8 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill hogsheads with a finish in first-fill Virgin Oak casks, bottled at 57.1%.

Wilson & Morgan is an Italian, family-owned bottler founded in Barolo country in 1992 with a keen eye for Scottish casks. This is the 2nd batch of the series from Caol Ila, with cask numbers #314293-97 and #314299-301. 2,383 bottles were produced.

The Virgin Oak cask – never previously used – is intense: it contributes powerful notes of vanilla and coconut along with spice, but none of the buttery sweetness that a sherry cask would give. Combined with Caol Ila's maritime smoke, an aromatic backbone emerges that is clear and vivid.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm vanilla and coconut from the Virgin Oak open, followed by Caol Ila's peat smoke and fresh citrus. A hint of cinnamon and cloves in the background.

Palate

Robust and aromatic. Smoke and oak spice sit close together, with an underlying freshness of green apple and citrus peel. No buttery sweetness – direct, clean character.

Finish

Medium-long. Spice and smoke linger with a dry, lightly bitter ending from the fresh oak.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2015/2023 Wilson & Morgan 8 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogsheads with Virgin Oak finish
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 2,383
Edition: 2nd batch
EAN no.: 8057760350366

Flavour profile

Peated · Spiced · Fresh · Vanilla · Robust

Did you know?

Wilson & Morgan is based in Piedmont, northern Italy – and that is no coincidence: Italy's whisky enthusiasm is world-class. Italy ranks among the countries with the most whisky purchasers per capita globally.

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Thirty-three years in a single cask. While Caol Ila has distilled and matured its well-known 12-year for Diageo's needs, this cask has waited – unseen and untouched – in a refill bourbon hogshead in a Scottish warehouse. Hunter Laing found it in 2023 for The Kinship: the series' most important bottling of the year.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single refill bourbon hogshead, bottled at 44.5% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 300 bottles.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's prestige series – one expression per distillery, released once a year. For 2023, the choice fell on this 33-year Caol Ila, which according to Hunter Laing itself celebrates the Scottish whisky community and the regions that have made Scotland world-famous.

Three decades in a refill bourbon hogshead give a Caol Ila that has changed: the smoke is there, but softened and integrated over time. This is not the young, salty Caol Ila – it is a mature, layered version of it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light peat smoke with caramel, stewed fruit and soft beeswax. A salty sea breeze that immediately sets the scene on Islay's coast – but in a slower, more reflective tone than young bottlings.

Palate

Soft and layered. Clear maritime saltiness, seaweed and fresh oysters. The smoke is discreet and elegantly integrated, with room for deeper notes of oak, dried fruit and medicinal herbs. A bottling to spend time with.

Finish

Long, leathery and satisfying. Worn leather, glowing peat embers and a persistent salty close that is in no hurry.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 33 years
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill bourbon hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 300
Series: The Kinship Series

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Leathery · Layered · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A single-cask bottling at 33 years from a respected bottler with only 300 bottles is rare – and Hunter Laing's Kinship series is sought by collectors worldwide.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing also operates Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay – the island's newest distillery, opened in 2019. Ardnahoe uses traditional worm tubs for condensation, giving a heavier and more complex distillate than modern condensers.

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Five years is a short time. But Murray McDavid knew what they had – a young, vibrant Caol Ila distillate that needed a pivot point. Justino Madeira casks from the Atlantic island provided it: a sweet, slightly oxidised wine sweetness meeting the young smoke halfway.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 5 Years Murray McDavid Benchmark Series Justino Madeira Cask Finish is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 2018, bottled in 2023 at 51.5% with a Justino Madeira cask finish, without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid is a Scottish bottler with a long history and a clear philosophy: find interesting casks, experiment with unexpected combinations and bottle with respect for the distillate's character. The Benchmark Series is the line of larger batches – this batch yielded 1,803 bottles.

Justino Madeira's casks – from the Portuguese Atlantic island – are known for their sweet, nutty and lightly oxidised profile. Caol Ila's young smoke meets it and produces an expression both fresh and surprisingly complex for its age.

Tasting notes

Nose

Young, fresh Caol Ila smoke meets sweet, nutty Madeira notes. Dried fruit, a warm spice note and a hint of salt.

Palate

Light and fresh with a sweet Madeira frame around Caol Ila's smoke. Toffee, light citrus and a slightly medicinal edge showing the distillate's youth.

Finish

Relatively short but fresh. Smoke and Madeira sweetness close with light saltiness and a little pepper.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 5 Years Murray McDavid Benchmark Series Justino Madeira Cask Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 51.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Justino Madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 1,803
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353304618

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Sweet · Fresh · Nutty

Did you know?

Justino Madeira is one of the oldest wine houses on Madeira, founded in 1870. Their casks carry flavour and aroma from decades of dessert wine – that is the heritage they lend to whisky finishes.

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At Port Askaig on Islay's north-east coast, where the tidal current sweeps past whitewashed buildings and the Paps of Jura rise across the sound, stands a distillery that spent decades feeding Johnnie Walker's blends in near-anonymity. Here it appears under its own name, bottled by a young whisky house from Edinburgh.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 8 Years Edinburgh Whisky Co The Discovery Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill hogsheads and bottled at 46.3% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Caol Ila Distillery, founded in 1846 at Port Askaig, is Islay's largest distillery and a key supplier to Diageo's blends – primarily Johnnie Walker. Only a small share is bottled as single malt, giving each independent release a degree of rarity.

Edinburgh Whisky Co is a family-owned independent whisky house from Edinburgh that assembled the Discovery Collection to celebrate Scotland's whisky regions. The series covers Speyside, Highland and Islay, and is always bottled without artificial colour or chill filtration.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet barbecue smoke meets fresh citrus and a touch of salt-laden sea air. A soft vanilla note from the cask lingers in the background.

Palate

Creamy and round. Warm smoke integrated with fresh fruit notes and a light hint of honey. The balance holds throughout.

Finish

The smoke lingers, soft and persistent, with a final suggestion of sweetness and maritime notes.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 8 Years Edinburgh Whisky Co The Discovery Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Edinburgh Whisky Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Discovery Collection

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Maritime · Sweet

Did you know?

Caol Ila – Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay' – is the island's most productive distillery, yet among the least known by name. It forms the backbone of Johnnie Walker Black Label.

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Dram Mor chose a French oak Oloroso hogshead for their Caol Ila – and that is not obvious. Scotch whisky is traditionally matured in American oak. French oak is denser, more spiced and contributes differently to the aroma profile than its American counterpart.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 9 Years Dram Mor is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a French oak Oloroso hogshead, bottled at 55.2%. 288 bottles.

Dram Mor is an independent bottler specialising in single-cask bottlings with a focus on unusual cask combinations. The name is Gaelic for 'big dram'. French oak's denser structure gives more spice – cinnamon, cloves and a spicy dryness – combined with Oloroso sherry's fruitiness.

The existing tasting panel describes the whisky as 'sublime' with salted caramel, cigar smoke and stone fruits on the nose, and a massive, long-lasting finish. 288 bottles were bottled.

Tasting notes

Nose

Salted caramel and cigar smoke from the French oak meet Caol Ila's peat smoke and stone fruit. A complex and fascinating combination.

Palate

Intense and layered. Salted caramel, Oloroso sweetness and a depth of smoke and spice from the French oak. For those who want everything at once.

Finish

Massive and persistent. Smoke, fruit sweetness and spices hold without weakening for a long time – the kind of finish that rewards patience.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 9 Years Dram Mor French Oak Oloroso Hogshead
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Dram Mor
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 55.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – finished in French oak Oloroso hogshead
Number of bottles: 288

Flavour profile

Peated · Oloroso-sweet · Spiced · Intense · Long-finishing

Did you know?

French oak (Quercus Robur) is denser and contains more tannin and spice than American white oak (Quercus Alba). It is traditionally used for the finest Bordeaux wines and is rare in Scotch whisky production.

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Rothes lost Caperdonich in 2002, and the walls came down a few years later. Only the casks remain, and there are fewer of them every year. This is one of them, pulled from the warehouse after 22 winters.

Expert description

Caperdonich 1997/2020 Lady of the Glen 22 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead and bottled at cask strength of 60.5%.

The cask carries the number 19130 and was filled in 1997, five years before Chivas Brothers closed the distillery for good. Lady of the Glen, the Scottish independent bottler from Fife, bottled it in 2020 without chill filtration and without added colouring. Caperdonich was originally built as Glen Grant No. 2 and mostly made malt for blends, which is why official bottlings are scarce. Bottlers like this one keep the distillery character alive.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dried apricot and hay first, then vanilla, coconut and a thick waxy note from the bourbon cask. Give it five minutes in the glass and baked apple and a touch of white pepper appear.

Palate

The strength is there from the first sip, but it does not bite. Caramelised pear, honey, malt and toasted oak, with an oily texture that coats the tongue. A few drops of water open up a clear lemon peel.

Finish

Long and dry, with oak, nutmeg and a faintly bitter almond note that lingers well after the sweetness has gone.

Specifications

Name: Caperdonich 1997/2020 Lady of the Glen 22 years Single Speyside Malt Whisky 60,5%
Distillery: Caperdonich
Bottler: Lady of the Glen
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 22 years
ABV: 60.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon hogshead no. 19130
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 1997
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 171
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Waxy · Malty · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. Caperdonich is closed and demolished, and the supply of single cask bottlings with two decades in wood keeps shrinking. Bottles from the distillery have risen sharply in value since it shut down.

Did you know?

Caperdonich was originally named Glen Grant No. 2 and stood across the road from its parent distillery. A pipe ran under the road carrying spirit from one house to the other, and locals called it the whisky aqueduct.

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Two Italians with too much love for Scotch bought a cask from a distillery that no longer exists. Twenty years later it went into bottle. That is how Caperdonich survives.

Expert description

Caperdonich 20 years 2000/2020 Valinch & Mallet is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead and bottled at cask strength of 54.1%.

The cask is numbered VMT29511 and was filled in 2000, just two years before Caperdonich closed. Valinch & Mallet is an Italian bottling house founded by Davide Romano and Fabio Ermoli, working exclusively with single casks bottled at full strength. The outturn was 315 bottles. Caperdonich mainly made malt for blends and the site was demolished in 2011, so every cask that surfaces is one of the last.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bright and sharply fruity. Green apple, pear and peach, with cereal and a dry vanilla pod behind. After a while in the glass, wax and a hint of mint appear.

Palate

Sweetness comes first — honey and baked fruit — and is quickly followed by malt, white pepper and dry oak. The mouthfeel is dense and lightly oily, and the strength carries the flavour a long way without burning.

Finish

Medium long and dry, with cereal, oak and a fresh lemon note closing it off.

Specifications

Name: Caperdonich 20 years 2000/2020 Valinch & Mallet Single Speyside Malt Whisky 54,1%
Distillery: Caperdonich
Bottler: Valinch & Mallet
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 20 years
ABV: 54.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon hogshead no. VMT29511
Distilled: 2000
Bottled: 2020
Number of bottles: 315
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Fresh · Spiced · Cask Strength

Investment potential

High. The distillery is closed and demolished, the outturn is 315 bottles, and Caperdonich releases have become noticeably harder to find in recent years.

Did you know?

Caperdonich stood silent from 1902 to 1965 — 63 years without a drop of spirit. When it finally reopened it was still in the shadow of Glen Grant, and only in 1977 did its own name appear on the label.

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See our full range of Valinch & Mallet

Helen Cumming raised a red flag over the farm whenever the exciseman came near. Two hundred years later Cardhu still stands in the same spot at Knockando, making the softest malt in Speyside.

Expert description

Cardhu 12 years is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40%.

The distillery was founded in 1824 by John and Helen Cumming, and in 1893 John Walker & Sons bought it. Cardhu has been the heart of Johnnie Walker ever since, and the house style — light, honeyed and almost smokeless — is exactly what the blenders build on. The 12 year old is the flagship and has for decades been the bottle you hand a beginner without the enthusiast raising an eyebrow.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey, pear and pale meadow flowers. Behind them sits a dry malted cereal note and a hint of vanilla from the wood.

Palate

Soft and light, with poached pear, honey, cereal and a touch of cinnamon. There are no edges here — this is a whisky that slips down rather than demanding attention.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and malty, with a faint spiced warmth at the end.

Specifications

Name: Cardhu 12 years Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Cardhu
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000267102573

Flavour profile

Soft · Fruity · Honeyed · Malty · Unpeated

Did you know?

Cardhu was the first Scottish distillery run by a woman. Elizabeth Cumming took over in 1872 and rebuilt the place completely — and she sold the old timber walls on to William Grant, who used them to raise Glenfiddich.

See our full range of Cardhu Whisky

The tall bottle, the yellow label and the word Highland instead of Speyside. This is what Cardhu looked like before the marketing department worked out where Knockando sits on the map.

Please note: Wear and scuffs on the label.

Expert description

Cardhu 12 years Tall Bottle Old Version is a Highland Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% in a 75 cl bottle.

The release dates from before the current bottle shape, when Cardhu was sold as a Highland Malt. Speyside sits geographically within the Highlands, and until regional names took hold on labels that was the wording used. The 75 cl size and 43% strength also belong to the past, both later changed to 70 cl and 40%. For collectors it is exactly that kind of detail that makes a bottle interesting.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fuller than today's Cardhu. Honey and baked apple, old library wood and a dry, nutty cereal note that comes with years in glass.

Palate

Rounder and more oily than the modern release. Malt, honey, dried apricot and a hint of dark cocoa, with a warmth the extra three percentage points clearly contribute.

Finish

Medium long and dry, with malt, hazelnut and a last breath of spice.

Specifications

Name: Cardhu 12 years Tall Bottle Old Version Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 75 cl 43%
Distillery: Cardhu
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Highland Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 75 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Tall Bottle Old Version

Flavour profile

Malty · Honeyed · Nutty · Soft · Unpeated

Investment potential

High. The release is discontinued, the bottle shape is no longer produced, and the 75 cl format at 43% only exists in older stock. The supply of well-kept examples keeps falling.

Did you know?

Cardhu was called Cardow until 1981. The name changed because the pronunciation tripped people up outside Scotland — but the water still comes from the same springs on Mannoch Hill.

See our full range of Cardhu Whisky

A bottle in the tall shape, still in its carton, holding 75 centilitres and three extra percentage points. Cardhu as it was sold when off-licences still called themselves wine merchants.

Expert description

Cardhu 12 years Tall Bottle Old Version is a Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 43% in a 75 cl bottle.

It comes with its original carton, which is rarer than the bottle itself — boxes were thrown away, bottles were kept. The release predates the move to 70 cl and 40%, and the higher strength shows clearly in the body. By then Cardhu had already spent nearly a century inside John Walker & Sons, and the soft, honeyed house style had long been the backbone of Scotland's best selling blend.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft and mature. Honey, poached pear and vanilla, with a dry malt note and a hint of dried camomile behind.

Palate

Full and lightly syrupy. Malt, pale caramel, apple compote and a little cinnamon, carried by a warmth that stays longer than in the current release.

Finish

Medium, dry and malty, with a faintly bitter oak note at the end.

Specifications

Name: Cardhu 12 years Tall Bottle Old Version Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 75 cl 43%
Distillery: Cardhu
Region/Country: Speyside Scotland
Type: Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 75 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Tall Bottle Old Version with carton

Flavour profile

Soft · Honeyed · Malty · Fruity · Unpeated

Investment potential

High. Discontinued format, discontinued bottle shape and the original carton intact. That combination is hard to find, and complete examples leave the market quickly.

Did you know?

Cardhu is one of the few Scottish distilleries where a marriage decided the history. Helen Cumming sold whisky through the kitchen window while her husband worked the farm — and it was her daughter-in-law Elizabeth who later turned the place into a proper distillery.

See our full range of Cardhu Whisky