Caol Ila 2004 Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & Macphail)

While on a journey to Scotland last year, we located this bottle at a UK supermarket chain named Co-Op. This raises a question: do people in Scotland really have access to excellent, independently bottled spirits from top distilleries just by visiting their neighborhood grocery stores? The primary aromas of this whiskey are vanilla and light fruits like pear or white peach. It also exhibits occasional floral characteristics, though its Islay origin is apparent through a noticeable salinity. There's a subtle peat presence, felt at the periphery, contributing a mild minerality. The palate offers an unexpected delight of key lime pie in this mellow, easy-drinking whiskey. Its main flavors are sweet and dessert-like, featuring vanilla, butter, and honey. As is common with coastal Islay whiskies, sea spray and saltiness add a welcome, seasoned quality to every sip. The finish carries a faint peat, manifesting as fragrant woodsmoke and salted butter.

The allure and difficulty of independent bottlings lie in the distinct variations they offer from well-known, officially bottled single malts. On the nose, Gordon & MacPhail's 2004 Caol Ila is quite briny, featuring seaweed, oysters, and mineral peatiness. Honeydew melon, pickles, and a hint of burnt rubber are present in the background. Sweet and sour, lightly peated, and punchy aromatic flavors dominate the taste before the medium-length finish fades with over-brewed tea, salted cucumbers, and white pepper. A rewarding, charismatic, and notably salty experience! RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

AROMA Peat, honey, scorched marshmallow, phenolic plastic, spice, orchard fruit, banana cream, a touch of toffee. A warm and easy scent with some nice fruity notes and a delivery that surpasses the standard Caol Ila 12. TASTE Dried apples, cinnamon red hots, smoke, char, malt, toffee. Similar to the aroma, there's a pleasant fruitiness here, but also a strong smoke and spice presence. This 2004 Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila possesses plenty of character. AFTERTASTE Medium-Long -> Smoke, fruit, and malt combine in a slow, velvety fade of sweet smoke.

The scent brings to mind the seashore, with notes of salt spray and saltwater taffy. The palate offers citrus, salt, and smoked herring. I could appreciate this aroma continuously, particularly in this intense 85-degree weather typical of New Jersey. It evokes memories of being by the ocean, or as we locals refer to it, "down the shore." Grateful to a friend for the sample. An excellently crafted spirit.

Clean, robust, and slightly peaty! Ideal for preparing maple syrup.

The 2009 release