Whisky Focus - Murray McDavid Returns to Islay Roots with New Islay Exclusive Collection

Murray McDavid is returning to where its story began with the launch of a new Islay Exclusive Release, bringing together six single malt Scotch whiskies that showcase the diversity of Islay while marking the independent bottler’s 32nd anniversary.

Founded on Islay in September 1994, Murray McDavid has since established itself as one of Scotland’s leading independent bottlers, gaining a reputation for its innovative approach to cask maturation and whisky creation. Now, 32 years after its beginnings on the island, the company is celebrating its heritage with a collection spanning a range of ages, distilleries and maturation styles.

The Islay Exclusive Release features six bottlings drawn from Murray McDavid's Mission Gold and Benchmark ranges, including rare and distinctive expressions from some of Islay's best-known distilleries.

The collection comprises:

Mission Gold

• Leapfrog 1992 – 33 Years Old – American Oak Bourbon Barrel
  
  Ardbeg 2008 – 17 Years Old – Oloroso Sherry Butt
  
  Bunnahabhain Mòine 2007 – 18 Years Old – Bourbon Hogshead finished in an Amontillado Sherry Octave

Benchmark

• Leapfrog 2011 – 14 Years Old – American Oak Bourbon Barrel
  
  Caol Ila 2014 – 11 Years Old – Bourbon Hogshead finished in a Madeira Wine Barrique
  
  Bunnahabhain Mòine 2020 – 5 Years Old – Sherry Butt with a final finish in a fresh Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Together, the six whiskies are said to demonstrate the breadth of Islay single malt, combining the island’s distinctive maritime character and powerful yet elegant peat smoke with a variety of cask influences. Each expression has been selected by Murray McDavid's Whisky Creations Team to highlight the relationship between spirit and oak that lies at the heart of the company's The Art of Maturation philosophy.

A notable return within the collection is Leapfrog, one of Murray McDavid's most recognisable bottlings. The expression was first introduced more than 25 years ago, with its name inspired by the legendary tale of McDavid versus McGoliath and the company’s determination to challenge convention in the Scotch whisky industry.

Commenting on the anniversary collection, Edward Odim, Managing Director, said: "Thirty-two years ago, Murray McDavid began its journey on Islay with a vision to explore the endless possibilities of cask maturation. While we've grown significantly since those early days, our philosophy remains unchanged. This collection is both a celebration of our heritage and a showcase of the incredible diversity that Islay offers. Every whisky has been carefully selected to demonstrate not only the character of the spirit but also the transformative influence of exceptional oak."

Murray McDavid has spent the past three decades building an international reputation for sourcing distinctive Scotch whiskies and developing them through maturation in carefully selected casks from around the world.

While the company is now based at its traditional warehouses in Speyside, the new Islay Exclusive Release represents a return to its origins and a reminder of the island's important role in Murray McDavid’s history. The six bottlings also demonstrate how different cask types, maturation techniques and periods of ageing can bring contrasting dimensions to Islay’s famously characterful spirit.

You will find Murray McDavid's Mission Gold and Benchmark ranges available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops

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