Wholly Smoke

I recently discovered this gem at an estate sale for only $20. I hadn't encountered the brand before, but the "Islay Blended Malt" designation caught my attention, indicating it would be good. Reading the fine print later revealed another surprise: "Produced & Bottled in Scotland by Macdonald & Muir." I realized this malt was predominantly "Ardbeg." For context on the history: Macdonald & Muir was established in 1893 by whisky entrepreneurs Roderick Macdonald and Alexander Muir. The Glenmorangie distillery, founded in 1843, was crucial to their development. Macdonald & Muir acquired a 40% stake in Glenmorangie in 1918, gaining full control in the 1930s. In 1997, under Macdonald & Muir, Glenmorangie purchased the neglected Ardbeg distillery on Islay from Allied Distillers for £7 million. Later, in 2004, the French group LVMH bought Macdonald & Muir for £300 million, maintaining its UK structure. Recently, Macdonald & Muir has acquired The Islay Hotel in Port Ellen, intending to create a top-tier whisky and hospitality experience. This 10-year-old blended malt, bottled around 2011, had its cork crumble upon opening. It's wonderfully smoky, clearly showing its Ardbeg origins. The other component is likely Caol Ila, which Diageo often supplies for blending. If you're familiar with Islay whiskies, you can already picture the taste. Excellent!