Rebel' Reserve Blend - Madeira & Islay Cask - Murray McDavid

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 50% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Part of Murray McDavid’s spring 2024 releases in the Crafted Blend range, Rebel’s Reserve deliberately combines different ages and distillery styles. Younger single malts from Blair Athol and Benrinnes meet considerably older single grain whisky from Invergordon. Maturation in Bourbon Hogsheads is followed by a finish in reconditioned first-fill Madeira casks and smoky ex-Islay casks. The casks used were 2200594, 2200504, 900110, 700016A and 2100825. The release yielded a total of 1,658 bottles at 50%.

The fruit-led Madeira casks and the casks previously used for Islay whisky bring together contrasting influences. Orchard fruit and malt are balanced by a delicate hint of smoke; sweet peat, citrus oil and red fruit add to the character. The name recalls Rebel, the West Highland Terrier in Murray McDavid’s logo. The whisky is non-chill-filtered and contains no added colouring.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, orchard fruit and malt mingle with a delicate hint of smoke.
• Palate: On the palate, sweet peaty notes meet citrus oils and red fruit.
• Finish: The finish leaves a mouth-filling sensation and combines fruitiness with oak spice.

Distillery/Bottler:

Blair Athol and Benrinnes supplied the malt components, while Invergordon provided the older grain whisky. The Murray McDavid Whisky Creations Team composed the blend; as the independent bottler, Murray McDavid was responsible for maturation and bottling.

Murray McDavid was founded in 1994 by London wine merchants Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin, together with Gordon Wright of Springbank. Finishing whisky in selected casks, particularly former wine casks, has been part of the bottler’s approach since its early years. For this cask work, known as Art of Maturation, the team sources casks from producers in different countries and stores whisky in traditional dunnage warehouses.

Blair Athol was founded in 1798 south of the Cairngorms. Invergordon is one of Scotland’s large grain distilleries and mainly processes maize and wheat. Its whisky is predominantly used in blends. For Rebel’s Reserve, Murray McDavid brings together the malt and grain components and selects the casks for finishing.

Facts: