Edradour 1972 Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

I was eager to try these visually appealing vintage bottles from Connoisseur's Choice by Gordon & MacPhail, the ones with the aged brown/yellow labels. Unable to afford a full bottle, I managed to get some miniatures and was thrilled to get my hands on some 1970s Edradours. The first miniature I opened, which had already experienced some evaporation, was a 1972 Edradour. Bottled at 40% ABV, I have no further details about it. On the nose, it begins with the scent of an old library - old books. Prunes, farm fruits. Tart fruits like green grapes. Grape juice. I wouldn't guess it was an Edradour in a blind tasting. Blackberry jam; it needs a few minutes to breathe. Strawberries appeared after some time. Definitely red fruits; it has a wine-like, very fruity character. A super interesting and evolving aroma. On the palate, it is very oaky, very sour. Sawdust, there's a faint prune taste, but overall it feels "woody." The flavor seems a bit diluted and doesn't deliver the complexity of the nose. A pleasant spiciness has emerged, noticeable from a wine cask. A faint jam is present somewhere. The aftertaste has a nice ashy, tobacco note. A sulfuric, Marlboro finish. It screams cowboy. Chewy, sour, pleasant aftertaste. The overall sensation of this aftertaste is quite satisfying. Very dry, feels strong and nice. Overall, this was a very intriguing experience, offering a glimpse into the distillery's past, where it wasn't quite the sherry bomb it is today, at least that's how it seemed. The nose is quite complex and by far the best aspect of this dram. The palate barely met expectations and the aftertaste was beautiful. My rating for it is 89 out of 100.