Elegant on the surface, but endlessly complex once you step closer. The 2024 Special Release captures the feeling of standing on a misty shoreline at first light, when the sea is calm but the air still carries the pulse of last night’s storm. It’s a whisky shaped by smoke, salt, and clarity, a reminder that subtlety can be just as commanding as power.

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2024 Special Release
Brand: Caol Ila | Category: Single Malt Scotch Whisky | ABV: 58% | Origin: Islay, Scotland | Vol: 700ml

Tasting Profile:
Nose: Gentle coastal smoke, crisp pear, sea salt, and bright citrus, like breathing in cool morning air beside the water with a hint of smoldering driftwood in the distance.
Palate: Clean, vibrant, and expressive. Notes of lemon zest, green apple, smoked malt, light brine, and sweet vanilla glide across the tongue with Caol Ila’s signature clarity. The smoke is refined, never heavy, drifting in and out like sea mist.
Finish: Long and refreshing with soft smoke, maritime salt, and lingering citrus brightness that leaves the palate lifted and awake.

Production Details:
Caol Ila’s tall stills create a spirit known for elegance even amid peat. The 2024 Special Release leans into that purity, using cask influence to highlight fruit and brightness rather than overwhelm the smoke. Matured on Islay’s coast, the whisky absorbs the island’s maritime energy, a fusion of clean peat, fresh citrus, and gentle sea air.

Perfect For:
A calm night outdoors with soft conversation and cool breeze, or a reflective moment by a window with the sound of rain tapping against the glass. This is a whisky that rewards quiet appreciation.

Expert Notes:
The 2024 edition has been praised for its balance, smoky yet airy, coastal yet crisp. Critics highlight it as one of the most polished Caol Ila Special Releases in recent years, admired for showcasing a lighter, more luminous style of Islay peat.

Customer Reviews:
“Bright, smoky, and ridiculously clean. This is Caol Ila at its best.”
“Perfect mix of citrus and peat. Fresh but still unmistakably Islay.”
“I didn’t expect an 11-year-old to taste this refined. Beautiful whisky.”

Interesting Fact:
Although Caol Ila is one of Islay’s largest distilleries, its single malts are famously elegant due to its tall, slender stills, a shape that encourages lighter, cleaner spirit even when heavily peated.

Serving Suggestions:
Neat shows the whisky’s brightness and coastal clarity. A splash of water brings forward more citrus and softens the smoke. One large ice cube works if you want a chilled, breezy expression without losing character.

Distillery Background:
Founded in 1846, Caol Ila overlooks the narrow strait between Islay and Jura, a location that defines its character. The distillery’s whisky is shaped by sea air, slow distillation, and a unique balance of fruit and smoke. Known as the “quiet soul of Islay,” Caol Ila continues to produce some of the island’s most graceful and versatile peated malts.