Caol Ila – 10 Year Old 2014 Murray McDavid Benchmark

Caol Ila 10 Year Old is an Islay single malt distilled in 2014 and bottled by Murray McDavid for its Benchmark series. It is non-chill-filtered and of natural colour. The whisky was first matured in oak casks, then given a second maturation in Koval Rye Quarter casks from the Koval Distillery. The smaller quarter cask format brings more contact between spirit and wood, and the rye cask spice sits alongside Caol Ila's maritime peat smoke. Tasting notes mention cracked black pepper, vanilla, toasted rye bread, citrus oils and warming oak spice.