Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2014 Benchmark Limited Release (Murray McDavid) (50%)

From the independent Murray McDavid, an 8 year old Caol Ila, distilled in 2014, bottled at 50%, one of 1399 bottles. Caol Ila looks out across the Sound to the Paps of Jura. The clean, lemony smoke has made it a favourite of blenders for generations.

It was distilled in tall stills that lend the smoke an oily lightness, for the clean island smoke prized by blenders. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the make lead. In its extractive youth the spirit takes vanillin vanilla and lactone coconut quickly, the peat phenols vivid and lemony. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. Diageo's Special Releases have featured both peated and unpeated Caol Ila. Its peated character is built on malt smoked to a medium level of phenols. Malt comes from the Port Ellen maltings on the south of the island.

At 50% without water it is rich and full. A fresh peat smoke over oily lemon, with a quiet vanilla under the smoke. Lemon, olive oil and a soft ash run through the middle. Smoke and sea salt see out a long finish. This is an elegant Islay single malt.