You can skip ahead, but you’ll miss a lot of great information along the way!
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
2:50 – CI Hermitage Nosing
3:35 – CI Hermitage Tasting
5:30 – CI Cask Strength Nosing
6:07 – CI Cask Strength Tasting
8:26 – ArdnAmerica Nosing
9:19 – ArdnAmerica Tasting
Recently I was in my local Total Wine store and came across two “new” Caol Ila releases from Gordon & Macphail. I say “new” as they had just received them in, but according to the labels one was bottled in 2021 and the other in 2022. But either way, they’ve just hit Texas and I was excited to try them given their price points of $100 & $120. To compare and contrast, I’m also reviewing the Ardnamurchan “The ArdnAmerica Tour Bottling” that can occasionally still be found here in the US. Now let’s take a closer look at the bottles.
Gordon & Macphail’s 2007 Caol Ila is a 13 year under the Wood-Finished Connoisseurs Choice line. It’s bottled at 46% abv, in a 700ml bottle, and retails for $100. It was aged on Islay for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred into French Hermitage casks for 3 additional years. Hermitage wines are AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) region protected wines – meaning to bear that name means it comes from that specific region of the Northern Rhone Valley. Hermitage wines are mostly known for producing some of the best Syrahs, so it’ll be good to see how those big fruity notes play with the smoky Caol Ila.
Gordon & Macphail’s 2008 Caol Ila is a 14 year under the Cask Strength Connoisseurs Choice line. It’s bottled at 55.6% abv, in a 750ml bottle, and retails for $120. It was matured on Islay for the entire 14 years in a first-fill Sherry Butt.
Ardnamurchan “ArdnAmerica” is a curve ball that I’m mixing in to “keep Islay honest” lol. This young peated Highland single malt was produced to take on a marketing tour of the U.S. in 2023. Sales director Connal Mackenzie and sales executive Carl Crafts visited the NYC, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Delaware in 2023 to showcase what a young Highland peated malt can be. While only being 5-6 years old, it was aged in Oloroso and PX (Pedro Ximenez) casks to impart a beautiful sweet smoke character. A total of 900 bottles were created and it was bottled at a cask strength of 57.8% abv. Retail priced at $95, no coloring was added, it’s unchill-filtered and was probably meant to show everyone that Islay isn’t the only place to get delicious peated single malts. I know they’ll be on my radar for the foreseeable future!
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As of August 2024, my current bottle count is over 2,800. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for three decades and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards! Fortunately, we’re still aging up more barrels of it, and as soon as they’re ready, I’ll work the next batch. But until then, don’t forget, that our other Bourbons have also won multiple awards and are on Total Wine shelves now (be sure to ask for a sample when you're in the stores)! So, also keep an eye out for our bourbons with amazing finishes like our Flagship Port & Cognac, the “Herald” an Armagnac finish, the Special Edition White Port & Cognac finish, and our Special Edition "Herald" that adds Pineau Des Charentes casks to the standard's Armagnac alone. It was just named "The Best Overall Bourbon" in a blind competition at Tales of the Cocktail's - 2023 New Orleans Spirit Competition! Given my decades of consumer/reviewer experience, you know I’m working hard with my team to continue bringing you whiskeys that we’re very proud of! Thanks for watching and please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
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