Another release from the renewed Connoisseurs Choice from Gordon & MacPhail. The series includes several early-2000s Caol Ilas. This one was distilled 10 September 2003.
Caol Ila 14 yo 2003 (57,7%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, first-fill bourbon barrel #302260, 212 btl.)
Caol Ila 14 yo 2003 (57,7%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, first-fill bourbon barrel #302260, 212 btl.)Nose: sweet with smoky notes and vanilla cake, honey and hints of a banana, lime and mango fruit salad. Citrus zest. Light whiffs of menthol and herbs. Hessian ropes.
Mouth: pears, pineapples, sweet lemons and vanilla but also grassy notes and white pepper. Moving towards grapefruit and grasses. Marzipan. Peat smoke, tobacco. Big seawater notes too.
Finish: quite long and ashy with ginger, salt and lightly bitter herbs.
Very good again, faultless Caol Ila with a slightly bigger medicinal side than usual and a higher complexity. Sold out in most online stores.
Score: 86/100