In 1846, Glasgow distillery owner Hector Henderson picked 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 the little puffer ships made their round trips to the mainland - slowly helping to establish the distillery as the biggest on Islay.

In 1974, a demand for blended whisky once again influences the fate of Caol Ila, which is completely rebuilt to meet increasing demand making it the biggest on Islay.

Pronounced 'cull-eela', the distillery is situated on the North Eastern shores of Islay with magnificent views across the Sound of Islay to the spectacular Paps of Jura.