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2003 Gordon & Macphail The Private Collection Caol Ila Sassicaia Wood Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Islay,
SCOTLAND
$150. 00
Bottle
$1800.00 Dozen
ABV: 45%
A much anticipated indie bottling that sees Caol Ila's typically fruity, softly-smoked malt finished for 33 months in x-Sassicaia wine casks (one of Tuscany's most prestigious red wines).
It's just arrived, but after pre-selling much of the Australian allocation, the importer informs us he's already approaching the final stocks. Distilled in 2003 and bottled August 2016. Limited to 4100 bottles world wide. Tasting note: A faint ruby red blush is evident in the flashy copper penny colour. Lovely lift to the nose - pure and intense aromas of peat soaked malt over ripe plummy fruit. Several minutes in the glass adds fruit'n'nut dark chocolate as well as hints of raspberry tart and Turkish delight. Beautiful wine / whisky integration. Surprisingly robust at this ABV, with spicy malt and creamy, chocolatey peat; finish is warming but balanced, with gently bitter fruit'n'nut chocolate followed by lingering Turkish delight late in the aftertaste. Excellent length. Those who enjoyed Springbank's recent Burgundy Wood release should find similar thrills here. Great stuff. 45% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Chewy, although slightly less to get your teeth into than normal for a Caol Ila; bitters slightly, but now the smoke grows and oils develop; paradoxically understated...yet confident. 90 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017
It's just arrived, but after pre-selling much of the Australian allocation, the importer informs us he's already approaching the final stocks. Distilled in 2003 and bottled August 2016. Limited to 4100 bottles world wide. Tasting note: A faint ruby red blush is evident in the flashy copper penny colour. Lovely lift to the nose - pure and intense aromas of peat soaked malt over ripe plummy fruit. Several minutes in the glass adds fruit'n'nut dark chocolate as well as hints of raspberry tart and Turkish delight. Beautiful wine / whisky integration. Surprisingly robust at this ABV, with spicy malt and creamy, chocolatey peat; finish is warming but balanced, with gently bitter fruit'n'nut chocolate followed by lingering Turkish delight late in the aftertaste. Excellent length. Those who enjoyed Springbank's recent Burgundy Wood release should find similar thrills here. Great stuff. 45% Alc./Vol. Other reviews... Chewy, although slightly less to get your teeth into than normal for a Caol Ila; bitters slightly, but now the smoke grows and oils develop; paradoxically understated...yet confident. 90 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2017