Dreaming-of-Islay
Caol Ila 2004 Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & Macphail)
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
July 9, 2019 (edited July 10, 2019)
On our trip last year to Scotland, we found this bottle at a supermarket chain called Co-Op. Which begs the question: do the Scottish seriously get to enjoy high-quality, independent bottlings of some of the best distilleries in the country, simply by going to their everyday grocery stores?
This whiskey's most prominent scents include vanilla and white fruit such as pear or white peach. It's also surprisingly floral at times, although its Islay heritage reveals itself in a healthy dose of brine. There is some peat, but it lingers on the edges, imparting a faint minerality. Key lime pie is an unexpected revelation on the palate of this mellow, easy-drinking whisky. Its predominant flavors are sweet or dessert-like: vanilla, butter, and honey. Like all coastal Islay whiskies, seaspray and brine add a pleasing, seasoned character to each sip. The peat is subtle on the finish and expresses itself as aromatic woodsmoke and salted butter.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
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The answer to your question is yes, because Gordon & Macphail was a grocery business that bottled its own whisky.
Co-op sounds like the English version of Sainsbury. Buy your meats and veggie, pick up some high quality malts as well