Review #453 - Gordon & MacPhail Caol Ila 11 Year Single Cask - Binny's Pick
Caol Ila is one of the most common Islay Scotch whiskies to find via independent bottlers. IB Caol Ila used to be one of the best value propositions for those in the market for an Islay single malt, but in the last few years, the IB prices have caught up to (or even surpassed) OB prices. Now, searching for that good value has become a bit more tricky.
Binny's, a relatively large liquor retail chain based in Illinois, USA, offers quite a few single cask selections of different spirits, especially whisky - bourbons, Scotch, Irish, and more. This cask that they picked from Caol Ila was actually owned by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail - the bottle carried their labeling.
The specifications on the bottle point toward a classic Caol Ila: this was aged for 11 years, so while some of the spirity notes might be rounded off, it hasn't been aged too long to be overwhelmed by oak. The cask type used was a refill ex-bourbon barrel; that likely comes with more moderated wood interaction, so there still should be plenty of the spirit character remaining in the liquid. The strength is a great 55.4% ABV, and this has some marks of quality often seen with IBs: no chill filtering and no added coloring.
Gordon & MacPhail Caol Ila 11 Year Single Cask - Binny's Pick
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 100 (2024, equivalent product)
Age Statement: 11 Years
Strength: 55.4% ABV
Cask Makeup: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 302020, distilled March 14, 2005; bottled August 2016; 192 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times (once blind) over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Damp and musty to start, along with relatively strong peat smoke; hints of wood smoke are mixed in, too. Behind the smoke, there are sweet scents of light fruit - oranges, mango, sweet lemon. Vanilla adds to the lighter character, even bridging into icing sugar territory. With time, floral perfume and mineral accents come out.
Palate: Great texture, rich and rounded, and the mouthfeel is medium-thick. We start with wax, perfume, and sweet honey flavors; the peat smoke is relatively strong and ashy, adding a sharp side. Dry oak and some tannins amplify that dry character, but we also find vanilla and moldy citrus to add balance. It's velvety, and there's a nice weight to the spirit.
Finish: Musty peat smoke remains quite strong into the finish. Vanilla continues from the nose and palate, and that tropical mango that we found earlier reappears in the aftertaste. Pepper and tannins add a kick, and there's a fizzy sensation at times... it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: This is indeed a very solid example of classic ex-bourbon matured Caol Ila - plenty of smoky and sweet spirit character remaining, but it's nicely rounded out with the oak influence. Plenty of light fruits and vanilla behind that smokiness, and the elevated strength means that the texture is great and the finish lingers for a while.
This is certainly not a cheap bottle of whisky, but because of the quality of flavor provided, we still think that it's a fair value. Caol Ila has risen up our list of favorite distilleries, and if we saw a bottle of this on the shelf, we would definitely consider purchasing it.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.46
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our Caol Ila reviews:
Review #434 - Port Askaig 18 Year Single Cask (2000)
Review #407 - Adelphi Caol Ila 13 Year Single Cask
Review #399 - Caol Ila 17 Year 'Unpeated Style'
Review #392 - Caol Ila 12 Year
Review #260 - SMWS Distillery 53 Rare Release 'Floral Petrichor' - Caol Ila 14 Year
Review #200 - SMWS 53.363 'Delicious Earthy Smoke' - Caol Ila 10 Year
