CAOL ILA 1984 Aged 40 Years ARTIST #15 Something in the Water

Created in 2011, ARTIST by La Maison du Whisky is LMDW’s flagship series dedicated to remarkable single casks selected for their expressive, terroir-driven character, paired with contemporary artworks chosen to mirror or contrast the whisky’s identity. Over the years, ARTIST has evolved into a true gallery in bottle form: an annual expression of style, ageing, culture and aesthetics.

ARTIST #15, the fifteenth edition of this emblematic range and released under the Itinéraires catalogue, is divided into two thematic chapters: Something in the Water, inspired by the magic of Islay and paying tribute to the island’s historic distilleries; and The Dark Side of the Moon, which explores the world of sherry cask maturation from Oloroso to Pedro Ximénez.

Selected for the Something in the Water chapter of ARTIST #15, this Caol Ila 1984 Aged 40 Years stands as the oldest and final Islay single malt in ARTIST #15’s island odyssey. Radiant with maturity, it reveals a remarkably subtle yet complex aromatic and flavour palette, through which delicate wisps of smoke drift over a clear blue sky over the Sound of Islay.

To understand the depth of this expression is to look toward Caol Ila itself. Alongside its trademark smoky malted-barley character, the distillery is known for producing a spirit that is oily, maritime and faintly vegetal: a balance of peat, salt and sweetness that has long defined its identity. Recent official releases have showcased an especially expressive, brightly peated style, while exceptional independent bottlings from Gordon & MacPhail and Signatory Vintage continue to elevate Caol Ila’s reputation.

Entirely built in 1972 (save for its warehouses) and reopened in 1974, Caol Ila today boasts one of the most impressive stillhouses in Scotland, equipped with three 20,000-litre wash stills and three 14,000-litre spirit stills. Despite their scale, these generous, onion-shaped stills help create a spirit that remains surprisingly light and delicate in texture, yet deep in flavour: a signature paradox at the heart of Caol Ila.

A whisky of rare age and clarity, this 40 year old single cask encapsulates the essence of Something in the Water: purity, luminosity, gentle coastal power and the quiet poetry of Islay itself.