When new, unused oak meets Caol Ila's already robust smoke profile, something unexpected happens: instead of cancelling each other out, they pull in the same direction. Wilson & Morgan used Virgin Oak casks as a finish on this 8-year expression, and the result is a Caol Ila with a forceful character that surprises.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 2015/2023 Wilson & Morgan 8 Years is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill hogsheads with a finish in first-fill Virgin Oak casks, bottled at 57.1%.

Wilson & Morgan is an Italian, family-owned bottler founded in Barolo country in 1992 with a keen eye for Scottish casks. This is the 2nd batch of the series from Caol Ila, with cask numbers #314293-97 and #314299-301. 2,383 bottles were produced.

The Virgin Oak cask – never previously used – is intense: it contributes powerful notes of vanilla and coconut along with spice, but none of the buttery sweetness that a sherry cask would give. Combined with Caol Ila's maritime smoke, an aromatic backbone emerges that is clear and vivid.

Tasting notes

Nose

Warm vanilla and coconut from the Virgin Oak open, followed by Caol Ila's peat smoke and fresh citrus. A hint of cinnamon and cloves in the background.

Palate

Robust and aromatic. Smoke and oak spice sit close together, with an underlying freshness of green apple and citrus peel. No buttery sweetness – direct, clean character.

Finish

Medium-long. Spice and smoke linger with a dry, lightly bitter ending from the fresh oak.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 2015/2023 Wilson & Morgan 8 Years
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogsheads with Virgin Oak finish
Distilled: 2015
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 2,383
Edition: 2nd batch
EAN no.: 8057760350366

Flavour profile

Peated · Spiced · Fresh · Vanilla · Robust

Did you know?

Wilson & Morgan is based in Piedmont, northern Italy – and that is no coincidence: Italy's whisky enthusiasm is world-class. Italy ranks among the countries with the most whisky purchasers per capita globally.

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Thirty-three years in a single cask. While Caol Ila has distilled and matured its well-known 12-year for Diageo's needs, this cask has waited – unseen and untouched – in a refill bourbon hogshead in a Scottish warehouse. Hunter Laing found it in 2023 for The Kinship: the series' most important bottling of the year.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a single refill bourbon hogshead, bottled at 44.5% without chill filtration and with natural colour. 300 bottles.

The Kinship is Hunter Laing's prestige series – one expression per distillery, released once a year. For 2023, the choice fell on this 33-year Caol Ila, which according to Hunter Laing itself celebrates the Scottish whisky community and the regions that have made Scotland world-famous.

Three decades in a refill bourbon hogshead give a Caol Ila that has changed: the smoke is there, but softened and integrated over time. This is not the young, salty Caol Ila – it is a mature, layered version of it.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light peat smoke with caramel, stewed fruit and soft beeswax. A salty sea breeze that immediately sets the scene on Islay's coast – but in a slower, more reflective tone than young bottlings.

Palate

Soft and layered. Clear maritime saltiness, seaweed and fresh oysters. The smoke is discreet and elegantly integrated, with room for deeper notes of oak, dried fruit and medicinal herbs. A bottling to spend time with.

Finish

Long, leathery and satisfying. Worn leather, glowing peat embers and a persistent salty close that is in no hurry.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 33 Years The Kinship Series Hunter Laing
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Hunter Laing & Co.
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 33 years
ABV: 44.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – refill bourbon hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 300
Series: The Kinship Series

Flavour profile

Peated · Maritime · Leathery · Layered · Elegant

Investment potential

High. A single-cask bottling at 33 years from a respected bottler with only 300 bottles is rare – and Hunter Laing's Kinship series is sought by collectors worldwide.

Did you know?

Hunter Laing also operates Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay – the island's newest distillery, opened in 2019. Ardnahoe uses traditional worm tubs for condensation, giving a heavier and more complex distillate than modern condensers.

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See our full range of Islay Whisky

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Five years is a short time. But Murray McDavid knew what they had – a young, vibrant Caol Ila distillate that needed a pivot point. Justino Madeira casks from the Atlantic island provided it: a sweet, slightly oxidised wine sweetness meeting the young smoke halfway.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 5 Years Murray McDavid Benchmark Series Justino Madeira Cask Finish is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 2018, bottled in 2023 at 51.5% with a Justino Madeira cask finish, without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Murray McDavid is a Scottish bottler with a long history and a clear philosophy: find interesting casks, experiment with unexpected combinations and bottle with respect for the distillate's character. The Benchmark Series is the line of larger batches – this batch yielded 1,803 bottles.

Justino Madeira's casks – from the Portuguese Atlantic island – are known for their sweet, nutty and lightly oxidised profile. Caol Ila's young smoke meets it and produces an expression both fresh and surprisingly complex for its age.

Tasting notes

Nose

Young, fresh Caol Ila smoke meets sweet, nutty Madeira notes. Dried fruit, a warm spice note and a hint of salt.

Palate

Light and fresh with a sweet Madeira frame around Caol Ila's smoke. Toffee, light citrus and a slightly medicinal edge showing the distillate's youth.

Finish

Relatively short but fresh. Smoke and Madeira sweetness close with light saltiness and a little pepper.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 5 Years Murray McDavid Benchmark Series Justino Madeira Cask Finish
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Murray McDavid
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 51.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Justino Madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2018
Bottled: 2023
Number of bottles: 1,803
Series: Benchmark Series
EAN no.: 5060353304618

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Sweet · Fresh · Nutty

Did you know?

Justino Madeira is one of the oldest wine houses on Madeira, founded in 1870. Their casks carry flavour and aroma from decades of dessert wine – that is the heritage they lend to whisky finishes.

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At Port Askaig on Islay's north-east coast, where the tidal current sweeps past whitewashed buildings and the Paps of Jura rise across the sound, stands a distillery that spent decades feeding Johnnie Walker's blends in near-anonymity. Here it appears under its own name, bottled by a young whisky house from Edinburgh.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 8 Years Edinburgh Whisky Co The Discovery Collection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in refill hogsheads and bottled at 46.3% without chill filtration and with natural colour.

Caol Ila Distillery, founded in 1846 at Port Askaig, is Islay's largest distillery and a key supplier to Diageo's blends – primarily Johnnie Walker. Only a small share is bottled as single malt, giving each independent release a degree of rarity.

Edinburgh Whisky Co is a family-owned independent whisky house from Edinburgh that assembled the Discovery Collection to celebrate Scotland's whisky regions. The series covers Speyside, Highland and Islay, and is always bottled without artificial colour or chill filtration.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet barbecue smoke meets fresh citrus and a touch of salt-laden sea air. A soft vanilla note from the cask lingers in the background.

Palate

Creamy and round. Warm smoke integrated with fresh fruit notes and a light hint of honey. The balance holds throughout.

Finish

The smoke lingers, soft and persistent, with a final suggestion of sweetness and maritime notes.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 8 Years Edinburgh Whisky Co The Discovery Collection
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Edinburgh Whisky Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill hogsheads
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: The Discovery Collection

Flavour profile

Peated · Fruity · Creamy · Maritime · Sweet

Did you know?

Caol Ila – Gaelic for 'Sound of Islay' – is the island's most productive distillery, yet among the least known by name. It forms the backbone of Johnnie Walker Black Label.

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Dram Mor chose a French oak Oloroso hogshead for their Caol Ila – and that is not obvious. Scotch whisky is traditionally matured in American oak. French oak is denser, more spiced and contributes differently to the aroma profile than its American counterpart.

Expert's description

Caol Ila 9 Years Dram Mor is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a French oak Oloroso hogshead, bottled at 55.2%. 288 bottles.

Dram Mor is an independent bottler specialising in single-cask bottlings with a focus on unusual cask combinations. The name is Gaelic for 'big dram'. French oak's denser structure gives more spice – cinnamon, cloves and a spicy dryness – combined with Oloroso sherry's fruitiness.

The existing tasting panel describes the whisky as 'sublime' with salted caramel, cigar smoke and stone fruits on the nose, and a massive, long-lasting finish. 288 bottles were bottled.

Tasting notes

Nose

Salted caramel and cigar smoke from the French oak meet Caol Ila's peat smoke and stone fruit. A complex and fascinating combination.

Palate

Intense and layered. Salted caramel, Oloroso sweetness and a depth of smoke and spice from the French oak. For those who want everything at once.

Finish

Massive and persistent. Smoke, fruit sweetness and spices hold without weakening for a long time – the kind of finish that rewards patience.

Specifications

Name: Caol Ila 9 Years Dram Mor French Oak Oloroso Hogshead
Distillery: Caol Ila Distillery
Bottler: Dram Mor
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 9 years
ABV: 55.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single cask – finished in French oak Oloroso hogshead
Number of bottles: 288

Flavour profile

Peated · Oloroso-sweet · Spiced · Intense · Long-finishing

Did you know?

French oak (Quercus Robur) is denser and contains more tannin and spice than American white oak (Quercus Alba). It is traditionally used for the finest Bordeaux wines and is rare in Scotch whisky production.

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Clan Denny Highland Edition Small Batch Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

Clan Denny Highland Edition Small Batch Release is an elegant and seductive single malt whisky that pays tribute to the classic Highland character with finesse and depth. This whisky has been selected by the experienced team at Douglas Laing & Co., renowned for their ability to highlight the unique qualities of Scotland’s whisky regions through small batch releases.

On the nose, the whisky opens with an opulent symphony of honeyed sweetness and ripe fruits – especially apple, pear, and a hint of peach. These aromas are accompanied by spicy undertones and a gentle floral note that immediately piques curiosity. A warm, grainy base is present, with a touch of freshly baked bread and sweet vanilla from the cask maturation.

The palate is rich and rounded, featuring malty notes, dried fruits, and caramelized oak. The mid-palate reveals subtle spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, beautifully balancing the soft sweetness. The texture is silky and lightly oily, delivering a smooth and enjoyable mouthfeel.

The finish is long and fruity, with deep grain and oak notes continuing into a harmonious and lasting conclusion. A hint of roasted nuts and dark honey lingers, ending with a slightly dry but inviting aftertaste.

Distillery: Unknown
Name: Small Batch Release – Highland Edition
Age: NA
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Alcohol Strength: 40%
70 cl

Clan Denny Islay Edition Small Batch Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

Clan Denny Islay Edition Small Batch Release is a characterful single malt whisky from Douglas Laing & Co., known for their expertise in crafting unique and authentic whisky experiences.

On the nose, you are immediately greeted by classic Islay aromas of peat smoke, sea breeze, and a subtle medicinal hint of iodine and seaweed. At the same time, sweet and fruity notes such as vanilla, honey, and a touch of citrus emerge, creating a balanced and inviting aromatic profile. There are also subtle traces of toasted oak and spice, suggesting a complex and layered composition.

The palate is smooth and rounded, offering a fine balance between sweetness and smoke. Flavors of apple caramel, baked pear, and candied orange are complemented by salted licorice, campfire smoke, and a touch of nuttiness. The texture is lightly oily, revealing hints of oak spice from the carefully selected casks in which the whisky matured.

The finish is long and lingering, with dry smoke, warm spices, and a pleasant sweetness that gradually fades, leaving behind a sensation of salty sea air and a hint of dark chocolate.

Distillery: Unknown
Name: Small Batch Release
Age: NA
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Alcohol strength: 40%
Un-chillfiltered
Natural Colour
70 cl.

Clan Denny Speyside Edition Small Batch Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

Clan Denny Speyside Edition Small Batch Release is a smooth and full-bodied single malt whisky that celebrates the distinctive character of the Speyside region. This whisky has been carefully selected by the experienced team at Douglas Laing & Co., known for their ability to highlight the unique qualities of Scotland’s whisky regions through small batch releases.

The taste opens with a smooth and full malt sweetness, combined with vanilla and caramel, giving a sweet yet complex profile. Fresh oak impressions emerge in both taste and aroma, adding a lightly spiced depth to the whisky. Summer berries such as strawberry and raspberry contribute a fresh and fruity dimension, while the oak notes provide a warm and well-balanced element.

The finish is long and smooth, with a sweet aftertaste that gradually fades, leaving a welcoming and harmonious sensation in the mouth.

Distillery: Unknown
Name: Small Batch Release – Speyside Edition
Age: Not stated
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Alcohol Strength: 40%
70 cl

Clynelish 14 Year Old Coastal Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

Clynelish 14 Year Old is a true classic from the north of Scotland – a whisky known for its elegant maritime character and its naturally waxy texture, which has made it a favourite among both enthusiasts and collectors. This single malt comes from the Clynelish Distillery on the coast of Sutherland, where sea air and Highland climate shape the whisky’s unique flavour profile.

Clynelish 14 Year Old offers a bright golden colour and an aroma filled with fresh citrus notes, sea salt, wax, vanilla, and a hint of spice. The palate is creamy and complex with flavours of ripe fruit, malt, honey, light smoke, and the signature “Clynelish waxiness” that makes the whisky both soft and vibrant on the tongue. The finish is long, dry, and elegant with maritime nuances and a gentle spicy warmth.

With its alcohol strength of 46%, Clynelish 14 Year Old delivers an intense yet balanced experience, making it ideal for enjoying neat or as part of a tasting where Highland and coastal whiskies are compared. It is also an excellent choice for whisky fans seeking an authentic Coastal Highland Malt with depth, freshness, and personality.

Distillery: Clynelish
Age: 14 years
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
Alcohol strength: 46%
Other:
70 cl
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Clynelish 2014/2026 Carn Mor 11 Year Old Single Highland Malt Whisky 70 cl 52.4%

Càrn Mòr Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a series where the character of each distillery and each individual cask is allowed to shine through. The range consists exclusively of Single Batch or Single Cask releases, and once a bottling is sold out, it does not return.

Clynelish 2014 Carn Mor 11 Year Old is a classic independent bottling where the distillery’s waxy, maritime and lightly spiced style is presented in its purest form. Carn Mor is known for selecting casks that highlight the natural character of the spirit, and here you get a young, energetic and unmistakably Clynelish‑driven whisky bottled at 52.4%.

The flavour profile is fresh and fruity with the well‑known waxy mouthfeel Clynelish is famous for. Expect citrus, green apples, light tropical fruit and a mineral edge that works together with a gentle salty note. There is also a subtle spicy warmth and a touch of vanilla and malt rounding out the experience.

On the nose you typically find wax, lemon oil, ripe pears and a light floral note. The palate is creamy and lively with citrus, honey, malt, wax and a lightly peppery finish. The aftertaste is medium in length with dry mineral notes, sweet malt and a clean, fresh finish.

A beautiful 11‑year‑old Clynelish that showcases the distillery’s DNA without heavy cask influence – clean, waxy, fruity and elegant with plenty of energy from the cask strength.

Distillery: Clynelish
Name: Càrn Mòr – Strictly Limited
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Age: 11 years
Cask type: Bourbon
Type: Single Highland Malt Whisky
ABV: 52.4%
Other: 264 bottles
70 cl

Craigellachie 2007/2022 The Old Malt Cask 15 Year Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 50%

This single cask whisky from the Craigellachie distillery in Speyside was distilled in 2007 and matured in a sherry butt for 15 years before being bottled in 2022. A single cask release produced by Hunter Laing & Co for the Old Malt Cask series, bottled at the series’ traditional 50% strength.

Distillery: Craigellachie
Bottler: The Old Malt Cask – Hunter Laing
Vintage: Distilled 2007, Bottled 2022
Age: 15 years
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask number/type: Sherry Butt
ABV: 50%
70 cl