In 1846, Glasgow distillery owner, Hector Henderson, chose a little bay on the Sound of Islay for his distillery site. He named it for the sound itself, using the Gaelic Caol Ila, and it was across this sound that the little puffer ships made their round trips to the mainland – slowly helping to establish the distillery as the biggest on Islay.

Today, Caol Ila’s secret bay is only known to true Islay devotees. The barley used here is still malted locally at Port Ellen and pure spring water from the nearby Loch nam Ban.

12 Year Old Caol Ila has sweet floral fragrances with a smooth body, balanced taste, and a sweet-smoky, lingering finish.