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Scotch Whisky Review: Caol Ila 1969 Connoisseurs Choice 17 Year Old

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OVERALL
RATING

9

Scotch Whisky Review: Caol Ila 1969 Connoisseurs Choice 17 Year Old

A 1969 vintage whisky from Islay’s Caol Ila Distillery bottled by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail as part of their renowned Connoisseurs Choice series. This Caol Ila was bottled at 17 years old, with the style of cask maturation unknown.
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
A 1969 vintage whisky from Islay’s Caol Ila Distillery bottled by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail as part of their renowned Connoisseurs Choice series. This Caol Ila was bottled at 17 years old, with the style of cask maturation unknown. Bottled at 40% ABV.
Appearance:
Dark Gold
Nose:
An aromatic exploration of smoke, its initially quite acrid, sooty, and tarry, but becomes lighter over time if allowed to breathe, with aromas of first gunpowder then sweet cigar smoke. There are notes of earthy peat, with hints of turmeric or liquorice root, alongside notes of leather, waxy polish, and gun oil. There are undertones of sweeter white pepper, vanilla, and green fruits.
Palate:
Opens with a wave of savoury sooty smoke, combined with an almost greasy oily mouthfeel, although this does thin quickly to reveal flavours of salinity and salt, black pepper and smoked fish. These give way to an earthy mineral driven peat, counterbalanced by citric lemon and lime, with a hint of green apple.
Finish:
Long, with earthy peat, cigar smoke and tobacco, black pepper, zesty lemon juice, and apple peel. These fade for a little menthol freshness on the conclusion.
Comments:
This is a complex and well layered Caol Ila, I particularly enjoyed the combination of shifting smoke, earthy peat, and citrus notes. This is one of those old vintage whiskies which seems to drink above the 40% ABV, can’t imagine at cask strength.

I’m a Caol Ila fan, and aside from the distillery’s very accessible core range, I think Caol Ila’s capacity to produce interesting and varied styles comes into its own with independently bottled casks. This Caol Ila 1969 Connoisseurs Choice gives an experience of what a vintage indie Caol Ila can offer – a stunning whisky.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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