Caol Ila 14 Years Old 1990 The Syndicate’s (Murray McDavid)

The independent Murray McDavid selected this Caol Ila, a 14 year old, distilled in 1990, bottled at 46%. Caol Ila is the lighter, more elegant face of Islay smoke. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above.

This was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, giving the lighter Islay style its shape. A second fill bourbon cask kept the oak in the background. Across the integration years the smoke loses its edge as esters and vanillin weave into a smoother, citrussy whole. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At an easy 46% it is gentle. A clean peat with sea salt and citrus, with a creamy oak note. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.