Isle of Islay is not dissimilar in shape to the British Isles itself, Caol Ila Distillery is at the very northeast, just where you'd exect to find Aberdeen on a UK map. Established 1846, Caol Ila had its share of the legendary closures and takeovers which are an intriguing part of Highland Whisky folklore. Rebuilt in the 1970s to modern standards, it is now an essential inclusion to the great marques of Black Bottle and Johnnie Walker. Malted and distilled without any exposure to the island's precious, pungently smoked peats, a fruity, mealy style of lingering, engaging intricacy.