Smoke Meets Spice. Salt Meets Red Wine.
Some journeys are mapped in miles. Others, in moments. And then there’s the journey of Caol Ila 18 Year Old – Rioja Red Wine Cask Finish, a whisky that began in the salty winds of Islay and matured into something entirely unexpected — deep in the heart of Rioja wine country.
This isn’t just another single malt. This is an Old Particular release from Douglas Laing, designed to challenge what Caol Ila can be.
The Islay Foundation: What Makes Caol Ila Special?
Caol Ila — Gaelic for Sound of Islay — is revered for its elegant peat smoke, briny undertones, and subtle complexity. While other Islay malts roar, Caol Ila whispers with minerality, smoked barley, and gentle medicinal notes.
Traditionally matured in bourbon casks, this Rioja-finished edition offers a rare twist — without losing the spirit’s maritime soul.
Why Rioja? A Dance of Cultures in a Cask
Rioja, Spain’s most celebrated red wine region, is known for oak-aged Rioja wines that burst with sweet spice, rich fruit, and soft tannins.
Tasting Summary:
- Nose: Smouldering embers, poached red fruits, and sweet leather
- Palate: Brine and berries, dark chocolate with sea salt, and waves of Rioja spice
- Finish: Long, warming, with coastal salinity and vinous depth
The Craft Behind the Cask
Part of our Old Particular range, this single cask was hand-selected for its unique finishing potential.
- Distillery: Caol Ila
- Age: 18 Years
- Cask Finish: Rioja Red Wine Cask
- ABV: 48.4%
- Style: Non-chill filtered, no added colouring
- Release: Limited single cask bottling, individually numbered
Each bottle is presented in premium packaging and bottled at high strength for full flavour integrity.
How to Enjoy It
This is a whisky worth slowing down for.
- Serve neat in a Douglas Laing whisky glass to explore every nuance
- Pair with:
- Cured meats
- Manchego cheese
- Dark chocolate with sea salt
- Optional highball: Still mineral water with large ice cube — the wine finish opens beautifully
Where to Buy
This limited edition is available exclusively via the Douglas Laing website.
Buy Caol Ila 18 Year Old – Rioja Cask Finish
Act fast — bottles are extremely limited and will not be re-released.
A Final Thought
Every whisky tells a story. Some stories are aged in bourbon barrels. But this one?
It was written in smoke and sealed in Rioja.
🏷️ Tags:
`Caol Ila`, `Rioja`, `Red Wine Cask`, `18 Year Old`, `Peated Whisky`, `Douglas Laing`, `Old Particular`, `Single Cask`, `Limited Edition`