Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2018 Cask Partnership (Murray McDavid)

An 8 year old Caol Ila, this distilled in 2018 from the independent Murray McDavid, bottled at 55.9%, one of 901 bottles. Caol Ila is one of the largest malt distilleries in all of Scotland. It was founded by Hector Henderson and later passed to the Distillers Company.

The spirit was made from medium phenol malt on soft Loch nam Ban water, shaping the lighter side of Islay. An unusual cask gave the spirit a distinctive, fruity twist. These first years are extractive, the oak giving lactones as coconut and vanillin as vanilla beneath a sharp, citrussy smoke. Long ageing turns the young, sharp peat into a soft, coastal smoke. Refill oak lets the maritime peat and lemon of the spirit lead the way. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The tall stills and a high cut give a lighter, cleaner spirit than the southern Islays.

Undiluted at 55.9%, it is powerful. Peat smoke, citrus and a soft oil, with plum and red berry from the cask. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. The finish is clean, smoky and maritime. This is a refined, citrus driven Islay smoke.