Caol ila

Originally founded in 1846 by Hector Hendersoon, Caol Ila had a rocky start. 

Caol Ila is derived from Gaelic Caol Ìle for "Sound of Islay" (lit. "Islay Strait") in reference to the distillery's location overlooking the strait between Islay and Jura. The distillery did not fare well, and changed hands in 1854 when Norman Buchanan, owner of the Isle of Jura Distillery, took over. In 1863 the business was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co, of Glasgow, traders in whisky stocks. By the 1880s over 147,000 gallons of whisky were produced there each year.

Famed for being one of the lighter Islay whiskies, Caol Ila is characteristically peaty and floral. In additio to being sold as a single malt, Caol Ila is used heavily in blends such as Johnnie Walker and Black Bottle. Since 1999, the distillery has also produced a non-peated "highland spirit".