Blind Summit Caol ila 10 Year Old

Caol Ila 10 Year Old | First Fill Woodford Reserve Bourbon Finish
55.8% ABV | 216 bottles

This single cask Caol Ila is a story of place, patience, and a few considered decisions that came together to create something quietly remarkable. Distilled on Islay and full of that unmistakable Caol Ila character – rich, creamy, and packed with smoky bacon notes – it began as a classic example of the distillery’s style.

But the journey didn’t end there.

It first spent time in a barrique previously used for the team’s 2024 Ben Nevis release, absorbing a gentle textural lift and a subtle grip from the residual red wine tannins in the oak. That touch of structure laid the groundwork for what came next: a final resting place in a First Fill Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrel.

And this is where the whisky truly came alive. American oak lent it creaminess and weight, layering in toffee sweetness, vanilla warmth and a rounded depth that beautifully complements the smoke.

James, not one to shy away from experimentation, chose to store this cask at the very top of a 14-storey-high racking system – the tallest in Europe. Up there, in the rafters, the heat of a notably warm Lowland summer of 2025 helped drive flavour deep into the spirit. Something special happens in that kind of environment: the whisky breathes more deeply, evolves more freely, and in this case, grows into something bigger than the sum of its parts.

It isn’t just a great Caol Ila. It’s a great idea brought to life by wood, altitude, and time.

A limited release of just 216 bottles.