Whisky Review/Tasting: Caol Ila 2005 Gordon & MacPhail

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Caol Ila Distillery, Islay, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation and Maturation Process: Distilled in 2005, matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel, and bottled in 2016 by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail.
Age Statement: 11 years old.
Cask Number: 301,547 with a total of 225 bottles produced.
Color and Clarity: Natural color, unchill-filtered.
Bottle Design: Specific design details not mentioned, but it is noted that the bottle comes from the distributor for tasting purposes.

Nose: Sweet bacon aromas, green apple, ripe banana, toasted malt notes, complemented by a peat smoke edge.
Palate: Sweet initially with kiwi, pear, and milk chocolate flavors enhanced by tangy lime notes.
Finish: Sweet and smoky with lingering bonfire embers.
Unique Characteristics: The whisky exhibits a bonfire type of peatiness, as opposed to medicinal peatiness, with a notable fruitiness in the background.

Anecdotes: The reviewer shares a personal experience of being in a restaurant in Beaumont with a peat fire, illustrating how different peat aromas can manifest based on the oxygen level during combustion.
Production Insights: Gordon & MacPhail often bottles casks in small batches or as individual casks, like this one, which allows for a unique expression of the distillery's character.

Islay Peat: The whisky's peatiness is a hallmark of its Islay origin, showcasing the traditional use of peat in the malting process that imparts a distinctive smoky character to the whisky.
Independent Bottling: The role of independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail in offering unique, cask-strength expressions of distillery profiles, often not available through official bottlings.

"Bonfire smoke definitely with a little fruitiness in the back."
"One of the very, very typical Caol Ilas available on the market."
"This one is a single cask definitely an ex first fill ex-bourbon cask and therefore the aromas are well more on the cask side than on the distillery character side."

Caol Ila 2005, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, is an 11-year-old single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel.
It features a flavor profile rich in sweet and smoky notes, with a distinctive bonfire peatiness complemented by fruitiness.
The whisky provides insight into the impact of peat and oxygen levels on flavor, as well as the unique offerings of independent bottlers.
It is a rare cask-strength expression from Gordon & MacPhail, highlighting the influence of the cask on the whisky's character.

Peat Lovers: Individuals who appreciate the smoky, peaty character typical of Islay whiskies will find this expression particularly enjoyable.
Cask Strength Enthusiasts: Those who prefer the intensity and complexity of cask-strength whiskies.
Connoisseurs Interested in Independent Bottlings: Whisky aficionados looking to explore unique expressions not available through official distillery bottlings.
Beginners with a Preference for Smoky Flavors: New whisky drinkers intrigued by smoky profiles, though they may want to approach this cask-strength whisky with caution, possibly diluting it slightly to suit their palate.