
Caol Ila 8 Year Old - 2014 | Murray McDavid - UK Exclusive
An indie bottling of single malt from Caol Ila distillery, released by Murray McDavid as part of their excellent Benchmark series. One of five UK e...
View full detailsIslay has a magnetism for all Scotch whisky fans the world over. For many when they are planning a trip to Scotland it mainly revolves around visiting this island off...
Islay has a magnetism for all Scotch whisky fans the world over. For many when they are planning a trip to Scotland it mainly revolves around visiting this island off the west coast of Scotland and its series of iconic distilleries.
Currently it boasts 8 working distilleries that consists of famous names such as Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Then there are the lost or silent distilleries with none other than Port Ellen welcoming you to the island if you travel by ferry. Memories of Malt Mill exist around Lagavulin and tales of illicit distilling on the island are rife prior to the arrival of the whisky industry we know today. Yet that’s not all, as Islay is set to welcome a couple of new distilleries in the coming years with Gartbreck on the shores of Loch Indaal and Ardnahoe distillery. This has the backing of independent bottler Hunter Laing and promises to create a classic Islay whisky with Scottish made stills and utilising worm tubs.
Given the current popularity of peated whiskies, it is a surprise that the last distillery to be built on Islay was Kilchoman in 2005 although over the past decade rumours concerning Port Charlotte and Farkin distilleries were in the public domain. Whatever the distillery, any visitor to Islay will attest to its community spirit. There’s a friendly rivalry between distilleries but nothing more and the locals have a laid back approach to life that is in stark contrast to the mainland experience.
Islay’s distilling roots go back several hundred years with many claiming it is the cradle of Scottish distilling, although some Campbeltown locals may suggest otherwise. Both have proximity to Ireland, which was the true birthplace of what we know as distilling today. Just 11 miles from Islay, it’s likely the Irish or a traveller brought the technique to the island where it proved popular given its abundance of a local fuel source (peat), water and grain. Historical records show that as early as 1494 whisky or aqua vitae (water of life), was being made on Islay and proving very popular with the locals, as remains the case today. The rule of law had very little influence on the island and it wasn’t until the 1800’s that attempts were made to enforce it with mixed success. By then the illicit practices on the mainland had been brought under control and legal distilleries encouraged with the Excise Act of 1823.
The island is mountainous to the north, with the southern half proving flatter terrain covered in peat bogs and Highland heather. It’s an ideal environment in which to create a rugged and distinctive whisky and many of today’s distilleries can trace their roots back to illegal or lost distilleries that once produced whisky. Yet for such a small geographical region, the whiskies of the 8 distilleries today have their own unique identities.
Bowmore is smoky and coastal, whereas Laphroaig has more menthol characteristics compared to Lagavulin that has a rich earthy nature. Bunnahabhain is light compared to its island counterparts, lacking the peat essence in favour of a gentle sea breeze. Kilchoman the young upstart improves year on year and is doing things the old fashioned way. Whereas Bruichladdich is lightly peated and more floral with fruits, yet finds time to produce a peated spirit known as Port Charlotte inspired by a former nearby distillery. It also ups the peat to create the dense and provocative Octomore after a distillery that only existed during the first half of the 1800’s.
Then there is Cao Ila, the largest producer on Islay and one that appears in a variety of blended Scotches and enjoys widespread support from independent bottlers and whisky enthusiasts generally. Each of these distilleries has its own unique and identifiable DNA, displayed through its whisky thanks to a variety of different approaches. Different shaped stills, fermentation, peat and water sources, some still operate traditional floor maltings providing a sizeable amount of their annual requirements such as Bowmore, Laphroaig and Kilchoman. Others such as Ardbeg would love to return to this method but its cost is prohibitive. For many distilleries on Islay they rely on the presence of the former Port Ellen distillery that made the switch from distilling to an industrial maltings to provide their malt. This distillery although now sadly silent, remains an iconic presence to whisky drinkers and an annual inclusion as part of Diageo’s Special Releases programme. Stocks of it may be dwindling but appreciation and the asking price grows as demand continues to rise and the island celebrates its whisky heritage annually with the Feis Ile festival.
For more information on the distilleries around Islay please see their own individual pages.
An indie bottling of single malt from Caol Ila distillery, released by Murray McDavid as part of their excellent Benchmark series. One of five UK e...
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The 2013 vintage Islay barley from Bruichladdich distillery, an unpeated single malt Scotch whisky distilled from barley grown on seven local farms...
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SC:01 is the fifth release in the Cask Exploration series and the first to use 100% Islay grown barley. Distilled in 2012 using Concerto, Propino, ...
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A heavily peated Islay whisky from Bruichladdich distillery, distilled from barley grown at eight local farms on Islay. Distilled in 2014 using the...
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2023 marks our 15th anniversary (Happy Birthday to us!). So what better way to start our celebrations than with an exclusive collaboration with one...
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A 2014 vintage Caol Ila, bottled by independent Scotch whisky bottlers, North Star Spirits for Cask Series 020. Bottled from a Port octave, this fl...
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A 7 year old Lagavulin released in celebration of the Islay Jazz Festival 2022. Crafted from American oak refill casks and ex-bourbon hogsheads per...
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Kilchoman released several new spirit bottlings on their journey to fully matured whisky in 2009 including this 2007 vintage Kilchoman. Released as...
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Kilchoman released several new spirit bottlings on their journey to fully matured whisky in 2009 including this 2006 vintage Kilchoman. Released as...
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Released as part of a new trilogy of core drams in the Elements of Islay series, this delightful expression has been crafted from Islay single malt...
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Crafted from rich, smoky single malt from Islay's south coast along with fresh, fruity single malt from the the north, Cask Edit from the Elements ...
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An unpeated Bruichladdich, distilled in 2011 using 100% organically grown Scottish barley and matured in 1st fill bourbon barrels for 11 years. The...
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The latest Bere Barley release from Bruichladdich distillery, distilled in 2012 from Bere barley grown on Orkney. An unpeated Islay single malt Sco...
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This single cask release was distilled 12th September 2008 and was fully matured in a fresh bourbon barrel. Exclusively bottled for the Islay Pipe ...
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A small batch release from Independent Scotch whisky bottlers, Berry Brothers. Distilled at the Caol Ila distillery in 2010 and matured for 12 Year...
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Originally released as a distillery exclusive, this single cask Kilchoman was distilled in 2013 and laid to rest in a bourbon barrel. Then transfer...
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We believe the first distillation run at Kilchoman was December 2005, so this particular cask was filled during the first year of production at the...
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This single bourbon cask was filled in the first year of production at Kilchoman distillery and at the time of bottling was one of the first 10 yea...
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Released as part of the 'Regional Range' from South Star Spirits, this 8 year old single malt has been crafted from 10 hogshead casks distilled in ...
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A special single cask exclusive bottled exclusively for the UK market in 2013. Distilled in 2008 and matured in single cask #244/2008, with only 25...
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An exclusive single cask bottling from Kilchoman distillery, distilled 27th March 2008 and matured in ex-bourbon cask #147/2008 for 5 years. 258 bo...
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A rather delightful single cask Kilchoman bottled exclusively for the German Roadshow 2014. Distilled 20th August 2009 and matured 5 year in total ...
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Distilled in the early years at the distillery, this 2007 vintage Kilchoman was bottled for FC Whisky Denmark in 2010. Matured in a bourbon cask on...
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The very first single cask Kilchoman bottled by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has been brilliantly named 'A smoky, Peachy, Yoghurt of Loveliness'....
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