Caol Ila, pronounced kul-ia-la, is a distillery on the island of Islay in Scotland. It has been used as a Carnegie-Drewry & Co bottling plant for this 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky since the 1970's. The nearby ocean yields soft water with a very low mineral content which contributes to Caol Ila's smooth and mellow taste.

The 12 year old is a nice gateway whisky for someone who might be put off by the heavier smoke of the 10. It's not unlike a 15 in complexity, with all the oily weight you'd expect from an Islay, but it's been polished off by an extra 2 years. It's still complex and rich enough for a connoisseur, yet oily enough to satisfy a peat-head.