{"product_id":"caol-ila-25-year-old-flora-fauna-limited-edition-islay-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2021-70cl","title":"Caol Ila 25 Year Old Flora \u0026 Fauna Limited Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2021) 70cl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eCaol Ila 25 Year Old Flora \u0026amp; Fauna Limited Edition Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2021) 70cl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 636 bottles \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA remarkable single malt. This is the rarer Flora \u0026amp; Fauna label of the 25 year old single malt. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaol Ila 25 Year Old Flora \u0026amp; Fauna is a highly sought-after and now discontinued release from the iconic Flora \u0026amp; Fauna series, originally released during the late 1990s. Featuring the distinctive harbour seal label synonymous with the collection, this bottling beautifully captures the maritime identity and elegant smoky style for which Caol Ila has become renowned.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart of the celebrated United Distillers Flora \u0026amp; Fauna range - a series curated to highlight exceptional yet once underappreciated distilleries - this release has since become one of the standout collector favourites within the entire series. The Flora \u0026amp; Fauna collection itself holds significant importance within whisky history, having introduced many enthusiasts to distilleries that would later become some of the most revered names in Scotch whisky. The series was notably shaped with input from legendary whisky writer Michael Jackson, further cementing its historical significance and collectability.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBottled at 43% ABV and matured for 25 years, this expression showcases a beautifully refined and mature style of Caol Ila. The whisky combines gentle coastal smoke with notes of sea air, liquorice, dried fruits, soft peat, and subtle maritime salinity, delivering a profile that is both elegant and deeply complex.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith the bottling now long discontinued and only limited quantities originally released, examples have become increasingly difficult to source, particularly in high condition. Collectors are especially drawn to early Flora \u0026amp; Fauna bottlings due to their historical importance, distinctive label artwork, and increasingly scarce availability within the secondary market.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout Caol Ila\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA perceptive whisky critic once called Caol Ila 'Mr Consistent'. It is a fair assessment. A powerhouse it might be in terms of volume, but Caol Ila always seems to manage to hit the perfect balance between maturity and distillery character, no matter whether it is in official or independent bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCaol Ila's distillery character manages to combine a fresh pear note, grassiness, a hint of juniper and distinct notes of the seashore – lobster shells, crab creels and gentle smoke. Although it receives the same spec of malt as sister distillery Lagavulin, Caol Ila’s distillation regime – longer fermentation, higher cut point, taller stills – helps to reduce the heavy phenols. Maturation for the single malt is in refill casks. The unpeated variant is equally delicate, with a fresh, estery and almost floral lift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts importance for blends meant that, until 2002, when a 12-year-old was released, malt lovers had to seek out independent bottlings. Now there is a range including no-age-statement Moch, 18-year-old and 25-year-old, a finished Distiller’s Edition and annual special releases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was in 1846 that Hector Henderson decided to build a small distillery in a tight bay next to Port Askaig, on Islay’s east coast. He named his venture Caol Ila, Gaelic for the Sound of Islay, the stretch of water which it overlooked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1857 Henderson was bought out by blender Bulloch Lade, which improved the site by building a substantial pier. It was absorbed into DCL (now\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/scotchwhisky.com\/whiskypedia\/2624\/diageo\/\"\u003eDiageo\u003c\/a\u003e) in 1927 and ran continuously until 1972, when the old distillery was demolished and a new, significantly larger one was built with six stills rather than two. This transformed Caol Ila into Islay’s largest producer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese were still the days before the single malt market had really taken off, and its make was destined for a huge array of blends across the whole whisky industry – most notably within its parent company, it filled requirements for Johnnie Walker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the downturn came in the 1980s, Caol Ila began running unpeated ‘Highland style’ for blends. Not only did it have capacity, but doing so allowed the distillery to stay open. Unpeated is still made every year, with volumes dependent on the forecasts of Diageo’s blending team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2011, another major revamp took place with a new mash tun and more washbacks being installed, which resulted in capacity increasing to 6.5m litres per annum. During the silent period when contraction was taking place, Bunnahabhain made the peated requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2018, Diageo revealed plans to spend £150m on upgrading tourism facilities, including a new brand home for Johnnie Walker in Edinburgh, and improved visitor centres at Caol Ila, plus Clynelish, Cardhu and Glenkinchie, representing regional styles present in Walker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt Caol Ila, a new visitor centre will be created in the distillery warehouse, including a footbridge entry, new car parking and a bar with views across the Sound of Islay to Jura.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e43% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Caol Ila","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53788047507794,"sku":"CAOL25FF","price":459.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1052\/9737\/9666\/files\/CaolIla25YearOldFlora_FaunaLimitedEditionIslaySingleMaltScotchWhisky_2021_70cl.jpg?v=1781801635","url":"https:\/\/whiskysituation.co.uk\/products\/caol-ila-25-year-old-flora-fauna-limited-edition-islay-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2021-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation","version":"1.0","type":"link"}