Skip to main content

Caol Ila 15 years Unpeated

malty peaty
4.2
(9)€73Scotland, Islay, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Caol Ila is famous for smoke, yet this bottling hides its peat entirely. Since the late 1990s the distillery has quietly made an unpeated spirit for its owner's blends. Diageo chose this batch for the 2018 Special Releases. The result is a softer, sweeter side of an Islay icon. Expect orchard apple and apricot, a swirl of caramel and cream, and warming cinnamon and ginger. Banana and fig sit in the background. Bottled at full cask strength, it lands with real weight. Pour it neat and let the fruit unfold slowly in the glass.

Compare prices

Compare prices by shop
ShopType Price
Master of Malt
Master of Malt
700ml
€233.67 ( £199 ) Buy 
Drankdozijn
Drankdozijn
700mlOut of stock
€99.95Buy 

Good alternatives

Reviews

4.2 /5

9 reviews

1 star
2 star
3 star
4 star
5 star

What do you think?

About the distillery

Distillery

Caol Ila

Caol Ila is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery located on the island of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson and is currently owned by Diageo, one of the world's largest producers of spirits. The distillery sits on the shores of the Sound of Islay, offering stunning views of the island's rugged coastline. Caol Ila produces a range of single malt whiskies, including a 12-year-old, an 18-year-old, and a Distillers Edition, which is finished in Moscatel casks. The whisky produced at Caol Ila is known for its peaty, smoky flavor profile, which is typical of Islay whiskies. This is due in part to the use of malted barley that is dried over peat fires, which imparts a distinctive smokiness to the whisky. Despite its remote location, Caol Ila is a relatively large distillery, with a capacity of 6.5 million liters of alcohol per year. The distillery uses a combination of traditional pot stills and modern condensers to produce its whisky.

4Average rating

92Whiskies on Distilld

Flag of ScotlandScotland

Islay

Most popular whiskies from Caol Ila

About the Caol Ila 15 years Unpeated

Caol Ila 15 years Unpeated is a single malt Scotch whisky from the Caol Ila distillery on Islay, Scotland. It strips away the smoke that made this Islay name famous. Most Caol Ila is heavily peated. This expression shows a rare unpeated face. It was chosen for the Diageo Special Releases 2018 because it surprises long-time fans. The distillery sits near Port Askaig, overlooking the strait between Islay and Jura. Its name comes from the Gaelic for Sound of Islay. Caol Ila was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Spring water rises from Loch nam Ban and falls toward the sea beside the stills. That setting shapes the spirit's clean, coastal character even without the peat. From the late 1990s, Caol Ila began making a small run of unpeated malt. It was built for the owner's blends, not for solo bottling. This Caol Ila 15 years Unpeated grew from that quiet experiment. The 2018 batch matured in refill and rejuvenated American oak hogsheads. Ex-bodega European oak butts added a richer, sherried edge. The nose leads with fresh fruit and floral notes. Apple, apricot and a touch of citrus open first. The palate brings caramel, cream and gentle fudge. Cinnamon, ginger and black pepper add warmth. Banana, fig and a whisper of barley round it out. A faint brine reminds you this whisky was born by the sea. Bottled at 59.1% cask strength, this single malt carries plenty of weight. There is no chill filtration and no added colour. That keeps the texture thick and the flavours dense. Caol Ila 15 years Unpeated rewards slow sipping. Enjoy it neat and let each note from the Caol Ila stills emerge in its own time.