A Rich & Robust Caol Ila for a Private Client

At Stravaig Spirits, we love helping clients bring their casks to life. Whether it’s a rare vintage destined for a bespoke label or something personal and straightforward, our team is committed to making each bottling project seamless and special. Our most recent example? A cracking Caol Ila for a private client who wanted to capture the essence of the cask without overcomplicating the packaging — and the results speak for themselves.

The Whisky

This particular project started with a bold and flavour-packed Caol Ila — a 6-year-old single malt fully matured in an Oloroso sherry quarter cask. Bottled at a punchy 58% ABV, this dram delivers the full-bodied richness you’d expect from Islay smoke married beautifully with the depth of sherry influence.

Sounds great doesn’t it? Here are our tasting notes:

On the nose, there’s an unmistakable hit of sweet smoke laced with barbecued meats – think sticky ribs sizzling over charcoal – underpinned by hints of orange peel and waxy furniture polish. The palate is oily and mouth-coating, unfolding into warming notes of glazed ham, demerara sugar, and spiced cloves. With a few drops of water, the smoke softens into something more coastal and woody, while flavours of dark cherries and stewed fruits come through on the finish, balanced by a lingering sweet smoke. Complex, comforting, and moreish.

A Plan from the Start

John, the private client behind this bottling, purchased the cask around three years ago with the clear goal of eventually bottling it. This wasn’t a speculative investment — it was a passion project from day one. With a keen interest in flavour and maturation, John chose a small and active quarter cask specifically for its impact on the whisky, and that choice certainly paid off. Now that the Caol Ila has been bottled, he’s opted to refill the same cask with a 10-year-old Ardmore, hoping to draw even more interesting character from the seasoned wood. We’re already looking forward to seeing how that one turns out next year.

The Client’s Brief

For this bottling, John was looking for a no-fuss approach: keep things simple, cost-effective, and personal. He chose tall round whisky bottles and a clean, minimal label design that features an image of himself — a thoughtful and distinctive touch that ties the product to its owner.

This wasn’t about flashy packaging; it was about the liquid and the story.

The Process

From cask movement to finished product, the whole project took approximately four weeks. The bottling was carried out at Lowland Bond in Glenrothes, known for their precision and flexibility when handling smaller, bespoke bottlings. The labels were printed by Daymark Labels, ensuring a professional finish while sticking to the client’s straightforward brief.

Project Cost Breakdown

We’re always happy to share how a bottling project like this comes together from a cost perspective. Here's a breakdown of the main charges involved in John’s Caol Ila bottling. Remember though, you also have to consider the cost of the liquid/cask itself.

Final Thoughts

Projects like these are exactly why we love what we do. Every cask tells a story, and it’s our job to help our clients tell it well — whether that’s a branded release or a single, personal bottling like this one.

If you’ve got a cask and a vision (no matter how simple or complex), we’d love to hear from you. Let’s bring your whisky to life.

Cheers,

The Stravaig Spirits Team