Caol Ila 2005 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 15 yo c. 301520

 

 

 

57,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & McPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Gordon & McPhail is one of those venerable bottlers that have been around for over a century. But in 2018, they completely renewed their range, notably by creating this collection, which offers quite rare Single Casks that have not undergone any modification. Here a Caol Ila distilled on February 21, 2005 and bottled on August 25, 2020, which gave 637 copies.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nice ashy smoke. Who knocked over the ashtray? Next, iodine. Loaded with seaweed and sea spray. A few fish, peat, it's all pretty familiar. Behind, something lumpy, could it be orange peel jam? Gooseberries, papayas? Meringue tart tatin? Sweetness is growing, it becomes well balanced. On the palate, lemon and pastry cream, spices, cumin, nutmeg, very thick peat. Nice grainy woodiness at the end, and even a slight bitterness. Long and beautiful finish, quite powerful, scrambled eggs, hay and sesame, a pinch of coarse salt, cola, iced tea. Hazelnuts and almonds.

 

In Short, 

It's a very classic Caol Ila, but what a pleasure. Despite the age, the smoke is present, and that's a good thing. It is nevertheless sweet, and the finish is really beautiful. A few years after its release, it is very difficult to find, but the price-quality ratio remains correct.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Primal Scream - Moving On Up