Origin: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon First Fill, ex-Sherry and ex-Bordeaux Wine
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Aceo Ltd.
Average price: € 50.00
Official website: www.murray-mcdavid.com
Vote: 87/100
Back to the intriguing blends of bottler Murray McDavid, who often hides top-notch malts at very affordable prices inside “loud” designed bottles, with the second edition of King James (translation from the Gaelic name of this bottle).
A union of whiskies from Scotland’s five regions, the recipe includes distillates from Bruichladdich, Arran, Tobermory, Auchentoshan, Rhosdhu, Glen Moray and Girvan (also grain, then), using stocks from the first version by adding Speyside whiskies.
Three separate casks from 2008, brought together for bottling ten years later, in the summer of 2018, in 732 bottles.
Tasting notes
Full gold with copper highlights in the glass.
The nose is immediately reached by intense vinous influences, of grape must and blueberries, followed by ripe fruit (plums, red apple, peach), vanilla, trifle, cereals and honey. Light floral notes of hawthorn and heather with hints of the sea. Good combination of sweetness and acidity.
A boost of ginger and pepper accompanies an oily, full, buttery whisky, a warm apple pie with cinnamon-dusted cream, sea spray, dried fruit, with a hint of smoky peat in the aftertaste. Leather and tobacco in the background.
Long finish with a hint of smoke on salted caramel, tobacco, dried fruit.
McDavid’s ability to combine very different whiskies into such a balanced and multi-coloured symphony is truly extraordinary, the beauty and art of independent bottlers (and their creative freedom) is embodied in this blended whisky without smears or inaccuracies, in this perhaps a little ‘cold’ and technical, but wish there were more like it.