SMWS regionIslay
Age12 years
ABV59.7%
ProfileCoastal & Maritime
Cask2nd fill ex -oloroso STR barrique
SpiritSingle Malt Scotch Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 12 years, Coastal & Maritime.
£95View on SMWS
Home › SMWS codes › Code 53
SMWS Code 53: Caol Ila
Distillery behind Society cask numbers 53.x
SMWS code 53 is Caol Ila, in the Islay region. It is an operating distillery, founded in 1846. Any Society bottling numbered 53.x (for example 53.1, 53.42) is a single cask from Caol Ila.
- DistilleryCaol Ila
- RegionIslay
- StatusOperating
- LocationArgyll and Bute, Scotland
- OwnerDiageo
- Founded1846
- WikidataQ51913
Mapping confidence: confirmed · how we verify · report a correction
About Caol Ila
Hidden in a cove above Port Askaig, gazing across the churning Sound of Islay to the Paps of Jura, Caol Ila (1846) is the island's largest distillery and the quiet engine-room of Johnnie Walker. On its own, though, it is a beauty: oily and cool, olive brine and lemon and a soft grey smoke. Diageo's.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottles single casks under numeric codes rather than distillery names, so a label reading 53.403 means cask 403 from distillery 53. That distillery is Caol Ila, in Islay. More on Caol Ila at Wikipedia.
Caol Ila in the current Outturn 2 bottle(s)
SMWS regionIslay
Age17 years
ABV57.1%
ProfileSmoky & Fruity
Caskrefill ex-bourbon hogshead
SpiritSingle Malt Scotch Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 17 years, Smoky & Fruity.
£120View on SMWS
Caol Ila in past Outturns 94 bottle(s)
The 12 most recent, newest first. See all 94 →
Sep 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age14 years
ABV59.1%
ProfileSmoky & Fruity
Cask1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 14 years, Smoky & Fruity.
“Smoke curled above a windswept shoreline as we laid charred pineapple, red apples and watermelon slices beside honey-roasted ham.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£98View on SMWS
Aug 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age11 years
ABV58.8%
ProfileSmoky & Fruity
Cask1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 11 years, Smoky & Fruity.
“We prepared a dish of smoked salmon and sweet spicy shrimps on a bed of lamb’s lettuce, rocket salad, red onion and cabbage, which we served with grissini alle olive.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£82View on SMWS
Sold outJul 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age13 years
ABV57.9%
CaskNew oak htmc hogshead & 2nd fill ex-oloroso hogshead
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 13 years.
“We made a black forest ham sandwich, using our freshly whittled spurtle to toast the bun in a warm skillet, before adding a dressing of mayonnaise, dijon mustard, honey,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£92View on SMWS
Sold outJun 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age15 years
ABV58.3%
Cask1st fill ex- bourbon hogshead & refill charred red wine barrique
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 15 years.
“Some of our more longstanding Panel members initially mentioned carbolic soap and coal tar shampoo, with others getting smoked papaya salsa, campfires and expensive…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£104View on SMWS
Sold outMay 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age12 years
ABV59.1%
Cask1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 12 years.
“The Panel found this absolutely delightful, with an almost perfect balance between smoky and fruity aromas, yet at the same time delivering salty and maritime…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£94View on SMWS
Sold outApr 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age13 years
ABV57.4%
Cask2nd fill shave/toast /rechar - PX-seasoned barrique
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 13 years.
“After nine years in ex-bourbon oak, this was transferred into a second fill PX-seasoned barrique.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£98View on SMWS
Sold outMar 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age11 years
ABV59.4%
Cask2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 11 years.
“The initial nose returned ripe banana bread munched by the seaside, gummy bears, and a gloopy dollop of manuka honey.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£78.50View on SMWS
Sold outFeb 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age14 years
ABV56.5%
Cask1st fill ex-bodega oloroso butt
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 14 years.
“Our Whisky Team has created a series of Two to One ultra-small batch bottlings to take you on a flavour journey you won’t find anywhere else.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£104View on SMWS
Sold outFeb 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age12 years
ABV56%
Cask1st fill Spanish oak ex-PX butt
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 12 years.
“Our Whisky Team has created a series of Two to One ultra-small batch bottlings to take you on a flavour journey you won’t find anywhere else.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£92View on SMWS
Sold outJan 2026SMWS regionIslay
Age11 years
ABV59%
Caskrefill ex-bourbon hogshead
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 11 years.
“Looking at the colour, one Panellist’s thoughts went to cricket; the batsman came in and departed without troubling the scoreboard!…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£82View on SMWS
Sold outDec 2025SMWS regionIslay
Age13 years
ABV58.4%
Cask1st Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 13 years.
“The Panel awoke on an old Scottish island ferry, with coal soot cascading over salted raisin purée, toffee sauce and lapsang souchong tea.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£99View on SMWS
Sold outNov 2025SMWS regionIslay
Age13 years
ABV55.4%
Cask1st fill ex-Oloroso hogshead
SpiritMalt Whisky
In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 13 years.
“The neat nose veritably bristled with sweet, natural tar extracts, then pure creosote, salted Dutch liquorice and the sweetest, richest of peat smokes.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS
£99View on SMWS
Other Islay distilleries: 3 Bowmore, 10 Bunnahabhain, 23 Bruichladdich, 29 Laphroaig, 33 Ardbeg, 43 Port Ellen, 111 Lagavulin, 127 Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte), 129 Kilchoman · all Islay codes
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FAQ
Which distillery is SMWS code 53?
SMWS code 53 is Caol Ila, in the Islay region. It is an operating distillery, founded in 1846. Any Society bottling numbered 53.x (for example 53.1 or 53.42) is a single cask from Caol Ila.