Connoisseurs Choice

One of the nice things about malt whisky is the independent bottlings. Gordon & MacPhail is in this category with their Connoisseur's Choice range. This evenings tasting was a comparison between six whiskies from this range.

All the whiskies are matured in refill casks, avoiding the cask overpowering the approximately 20 year old whiskies. First fill casks could give to much wood influence. There is no information about what kind of wood that's used in the sherry hogsheads, American or European. The American refill hogsheads are probably ex bourbon casks.

Distillery	Cask	Abv.	Distilled	Bottled
Bladnoch	Refill sherry hogshead	43%	1993
Clynelish	Refill sherry butt	43%	1994
Craigellachie	Refill sherry hogshead	43%	1991
Glendullan	Refill sherry hogshead	43%	1993
Glen Keith	Refill American hogsh.	46%	1993	2011
Pittyvaich	Refill American hogsh.	43%	1993

All the whiskies except Glen Keith are pale gold, while Glen Keith is deep gold. Bladnoch and Craigellachie give a feeling of a swelling tongue in the finish.

Bladnoch: Vanilla, peach, fruity, candy, oak, pine, earthy. Dry oaky astringent finish. Feeling of swelling tongue.

Clynelish: Fruity and and toasty with vanilla in the background. Light, round and sweet with an astringent finish.

Craigellachie: Hint of chlorine, vanilla and fruity. Light, round and sweet. Not astringent, but a very dry finish with pronounced wheat. Feeling of swelling tongue.

Glendullan: Fruity, pear and bubblegum with vanilla in the background. Round and delicate. Lightest of the six. Dry and astringent finish.

Glen Keith: Pronounced coconut from nose to finish. Sweet, fruity and floral. Fresh apple and pepper. Full body. Astringent finish. My favorite among the six whiskies.

Pittyvaich: Fruity, vanilla, pineapple, floral, candy, toasty and sweet. Astringent finish.