Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 56.6%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon barrel
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Aceo Ltd.
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: www.murray-mcdavid.com
Independent bottler Murray McDavid returns to the blog with a proposal for this year that, on paper, looks rather tantalising.
A Glengoyne whisky (a distillery not so easy to find among the independents) distilled in 2014 and bottled in the spring of 2026 at 56.6%ABV, in 850 bottles. With the Benchmark series, Murray McDavid has accustomed us to bold finishes and daredevil cask combinations. Today, no frills: ex-bourbon barrel. Let’s see how it goes.
Tasting Notes
The color is a pale gold.
On the nose, the first impact is with… a blast of alcohol. It takes time to appreciate an aroma in balance between floral notes (jasmine), fruity ones (with tropical echoes: papaya) and creamy ones (vanilla), which a dusting of pepper further enriches. With a few drops of water the profile flattens out somewhat but becomes more manageable on a sensory level, with a decisive swerve into the realms of pastry or grandma’s kitchen (shortcrust pastry and vanilla, with a touch of white-fleshed fruit).
On the palate it continues to show a peppery note (which is not a problem) and a slight alcoholic burn (which instead is). As on the nose, sweetness prevails (custard, tropical fruit, white-fleshed fruit in spirits) in an overall picture that is not unpleasant but not particularly exciting either. Here too, the addition of water leads towards pastry notes, with shortcrust pastry, zabaglione and jelly.
The finish reveals traces of pepper, cream, and candied fruit, but not for too long. Water seems to lengthen it just a little.
Review: Unlike other whiskies signed Murray McDavid, here my (debatable) enthusiasm is really quite limited. I am not used to criticizing high alcohol volume (of which I am, moreover, not a great admirer), but in this case I believe that a reduction would have helped. And I would like to emphasize the need for a few drops of water. Without them, the alcohol dulls the senses unpleasantly, making the drink difficult to enjoy.
Vote: 82/100