Murray McDavid Teaninich Dist. Islay Cask Finish Single Malt 700ml

Murray McDavid is an independent Scotch whisky bottler founded in 1994 by London wine merchants Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin, together with Springbank's Gordon Wright. The team built its early reputation on maturing whisky in unusual casks, particularly ones drawn from the fine wine world, and went on to lead the revival of the shuttered Bruichladdich distillery on Islay before that operation changed hands. Today the company operates from Coleburn Distillery in Speyside, where its Whisky Creations team continues to seek out distinctive casks for finishing single malts sourced from distilleries across Scotland.

This release draws on spirit from Teaninich, a Highland distillery built in 1817 by "Blind" Captain Munro and best known for supplying the backbone of Diageo's blended whiskies, including Johnnie Walker, rather than for its own single malt bottlings. Teaninich's new make is prized for its light, cereal-driven character, with notes of mellow fruit and sweet pastry that come from tall copper stills. For this expression, Murray McDavid finished the whisky in a heavily peated Caol Ila cask from Islay, layering coastal smoke and peat onto the malt's naturally sweet foundation.

The nose carries gentle smoke and maritime salinity alongside sweet, fruity embers. On the palate, toasted oak and subtle peat meet the whisky's underlying malt sweetness, creating a contrast between soft Speyside style fruit and Islay's smokier character, before a warm, lightly smoky finish.