Caol Ila 11 Year Old Special Release 2024

Caol Ila 11 Year Old Special Release 2024 is an exceptional unpeated edition from the Diageo Special Releases 2024 ‘Spirited Xchange 2.0’ series.

The Caol Ila distillery on the island of Islay took a bold step by producing a whisky with short fermentation and ‘cloudy wort’, which was then distilled in partially filled stills to maximise contact with copper.

It matured for 11 years in a combination of ex-wine casks made from American and European oak. It is these casks that have allowed the fruit and spicy notes to achieve balance without the typical Islay peat.

The whisky is a creamy nougat experience on the tongue. The initial notes are dominated by roasted nuts – hazelnuts, roasted almonds and caramel. After a while, a hint of spice emerges – black and white pepper, delicate vanilla. A drop of water brings out notes of green apple and a hint of citrus fruitiness, while subtle traces of wine add depth and length to the finish.

This edition is part of a series that continued in 2024 with ‘Spirited Xchange Second Edition’ – focused on creative combinations of casks and styles. Caol Ila returned to its unpeated form for the first time since 2018 to showcase the ‘lighter’ yet equally distinctive character of this distillery, proving once again that even without smoke, Islay can be surprisingly multi-layered.

The bottles are filled with 57,3 % alcohol by volume and have a volume of 0,7 l. They come in a beautiful and stylish gift tube.