Caol Ila 20 Years Old 1990 Cask #8732 (Murray McDavid)

The independent Murray McDavid released this Caol Ila, a 20 year old, distilled in 1990, from cask 8732, bottled at 53.7%, one of 231 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. A few weeks each year the distillery runs an unpeated, Highland style spirit.

The spirit was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, for a smoky spirit with a citrus lift. A fresh bourbon barrel lent vanilla, coconut and a fuller body. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (pear and apple) and a waxiness, the phenols softening to a coastal whisper. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols.

At 53.7%, undiluted, it is bold and clean. Smoke, grapefruit and a maritime salt, with a creamy oak note. A sea salt and an olive oil note sit under the smoke. A long maritime smoke closes it. This is the smoky malt of the Sound of Islay.