Caol Ila 2003 Sassicaia Wood Finish

Pay close attention: if you ever encounter whiskies aged in Sassicaia Casks, acquire them immediately. Let me share my experience. I frequently purchase whisky samples (3cl and 5cl) to explore new offerings and evaluate rare drams. On one occasion, I obtained an Arran finished in Sassicaia wine. It was absolutely outstanding, among the finest whiskies I've ever had. When I searched for a full bottle online, I couldn't find one. Nowadays, I have secured a bottle of that exceptionally rare Arran and have sampled other Sassicaia wine-finished whiskies, such as Benromach. Well... in 2003, Gordon & Macphail released this peated private edition Caol Ila, finished in fine Tuscany Sassicaia wine casks. Bolgheri Sassicaia wine can only be produced by Tenuta San Guido, the sole Italian winery permitted to make it. Bottled at 46% ABV, it presents a beautiful tawny color. The aroma is smoky and sweet, with notes of orange caramel and ash, evoking the scent of a pond or merthiolate. It also carries hints of carrot cake, farm fruits, and lulo. With further sips, the aroma shifts towards cotton candy. The palate is nearly perfect, featuring orange, tart fruits, and lovely caramel, with incredible sweetness, lulo fruit, and vanilla. The finish begins with grapefruit, pepper, and sea salt, offering a wonderfully spicy and exceptionally rewarding conclusion. Overall, this remains my preferred style of wine finish for whisky. It is highly elegant, full of sweet flavors that have mingled exquisitely with Caol Ila's characteristic peatiness. A flavorful and aromatic dram, I award this beauty a score of 95 out of 100.

The color is much like the Pinot Gris my spouse is having. The aroma doesn't reveal much. Orange, Apricot, and Spiced Cocoa are the tasting notes for this, which I concur are quite accurate. The aftertaste is practically nonexistent and a little odd.