How long is the Caol Ila tour?

The Flavour Journey lasts 90 minutes, including the tour, three drams and a small cocktail. Spirit of Smoke also lasts 90 minutes.

How much is the Caol Ila tour?

From £21 for the Flavour Journey and from £60 for Spirit of Smoke.

When is Caol Ila open?

Sunday to Thursday only. It is open 10:00–17:00 from March to October and 10:00–16:00 from November to February, and closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

Do you need to book Caol Ila?

Advance booking is recommended, particularly in busy periods and during island whisky festivals.

Is Caol Ila accessible?

The visitor areas, bar and tasting booths are reached by lift, and Spirit of Smoke is fully accessible. The production area has steep stairs, so the distillery shows a video of that section instead.

Is Caol Ila worth visiting?

Yes if you want a lower-priced Islay tour with a view over the Sound of Islay, and it is a mile from the Port Askaig ferry.

Visit guide

Caol Ila Distillery

Whisky in Port Askaig, Islay

Is it worth visiting?

Good value for Islay: the £21 Flavour Journey includes a tour, three drams and a cocktail, with a view across the Sound of Islay from the bar. Spirit of Smoke, at £60 for five cask-strength whiskies, suits people who want more whisky and less tour. Check the day before you plan around it: it is closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors

Tours and prices

Flavour Journey
Story table, production tour, then three 15ml drams and a small cocktail. No children under 8.
£2190 min
Spirit of Smoke: Cask Draw & Tasting
Five 15ml cask-strength expressions in the maturation warehouse. No children.
£6090 min

Book on the official website

Tours and prices checked against the official website in September 2026. Confirm before booking.

Why visit

The distillery and its bar look across the Sound of Islay to Jura
About a mile from the Port Askaig ferry terminal
The Flavour Journey, from £21, includes three drams and a small cocktail
The bar, visitor areas and tasting booths are reached by lift

Before you go

Closed on Fridays and Saturdays
Production stops for the silent season, 14 September to 23 October 2026; check the booking page for what runs then
The production tour has steep stairs; visitors with restricted mobility can watch a video of that section instead
No under-8s on the Flavour Journey and no children on Spirit of Smoke
Getting to Islay takes a ferry and a drive, so plan an overnight stay

Planning the visit

Booking: Book at malts.com; advance booking is recommended, especially during busy periods and whisky festivals. The distillery is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Its 2026 silent season runs 14 September to 23 October.
Opening: Sunday–Thursday only; closed Fridays and Saturdays. March–October 10:00–17:00, November–February 10:00–16:00. Silent season (production stopped for maintenance) 14 September to 23 October 2026. In winter it may close at short notice because of the weather.
Getting there: Just off the A846, about 1 mile from Port Askaig ferry terminal (CalMac from Kennacraig). The nearest bus stop is a 15-minute walk away; buses stop there a few times a day and not on Sundays. Book taxis well in advance.
Parking: On-site parking

Nearby distilleries

Bunnahabhain DistilleryBunnahabhain, near Port Askaig, 3 km
Bowmore DistilleryBowmore, 15 km
Bruichladdich DistilleryBruichladdich, 18 km
Kilchoman DistilleryBruichladdich (Rockside Farm), 19 km
Ardbeg DistilleryPort Ellen, 24 km
Lagavulin DistilleryPort Ellen, 24 km

Straight-line distances.

New visit guides by email

We add distilleries and re-check prices through the year. One email when we publish, nothing else.

We email when we publish or update guides. Unsubscribe any time. How we use your email

Common questions

All distillery tours More distilleries in Islay Distillery map