In 1920 Bulloch Lade went into voluntary liquidation, and a consortium of businessmen formed the Caol Ila Distillery Company Ltd.

The distillery closed during World War II, from 1942 to 1945, because of wartime restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers.

A larger distillery was then built, designed by George Leslie Darge in the same architectural style as many of his others with his trademark glazed curtain walls to the still houses, and production resumed in 1974.

Caol Ila is one of the lighter Islay whiskies, pale in colour, with peaty, floral and peppery notes.

In addition to being sold as a single malt, it is used heavily (around 95% of their production) in blends such as Johnnie Walker's Black Label.