Caol Ila 18 Year Old
Caol Ila · Caol Ila Distillery
Caol Ila's 18 Year is what happens when Islay peat is given time to evolve rather than dominate. It's one of the best arguments for aged peated whisky, showing that smoke can be a supporting character in a story about elegance and restraint.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Opens with a refined, almost elegant smokiness quite unlike the distillery's younger expressions. Honey and peach drift through, with a green, grassy freshness underneath. A faint whiff of sea spray ties it all together.
Palate
Medium-bodied and silky. The peat is present but woven into a fabric of caramel, dried fruit, and beeswax. A subtle woody spice emerges at mid-palate, with clove adding punctuation.
Finish
Long and surprisingly gentle, with lingering smoke, honey, and a final whisper of orange peel. The peat never overwhelms—it just hums.
- Region
- Islay
- Cask Type
- Refill American oak and European oak
- Peat Level (PPM)
- ~35 ppm
- Distillation
- Double distilled in copper pot stills
- Maturation
- Aged 18 years in a combination of refill American oak and European oak casks
- Chill-Filtered
- Yes
Food Pairing
Smoked salmon with crème fraîche and dill
Perched on the Sound of Islay with views across to Jura, Caol Ila has long been the workhorse of Diageo's Islay portfolio, though its single malt expressions reveal a sophistication the blends only hint at.
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