Caol Ila 13 Year Discovery (Gordon & Macphail)

Review #006 Proof: 43% Comments: aged 13 years, ex-bourbon maturation Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Pale gold color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 14/20 Smoke and green pears dominate, need to really search for more, eventually reveals some green bananas and maybe a little honey. Sweeter on the nose than other offerings I’ve had from Caol Ila. Palate: 33/40 There’s a unique buttery flavor which reminds me of Glenmorangie Signet, it mixes nicely with the smokey peat, there’s also some grapefruit and vanilla. Finish: 32/40 Long finish, citrus flavor slowly intensifies though out, big bourbon spice, also get some Honey Nut Cheerios which transitions into an ashiness and ends with a brief salty ethanol burn. With Water: A drop of water brings out additional honey sweetness. Total: 79/100 Final thoughts: Spent a lot longer on this one than I originally intended trying to get the nose and flavors right, was a bit tricky to unwrap them. Overall a nice and easy drinking dram, you need to search for the complexity, I’ll enjoy finishing this bottle but for the price point I purchased it at I’m unlikely to replace it once it’s empty. Price: $80 Would recommend: maybe Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

NOSE Salted butter baguette, smoke, honey, vanilla taffy, honeydew, graham, spice, lemon peel. Soft “green” notes pop in and out adding to the interesting character of this whisky. It’s oddly soft for a Caol Ila, but comes across as elegant and refined instead of light. PALATE Salted butter baguette, smoke, honey, vanilla taffy, honeydew, graham, spice, lemon peel, caramel and a light chalkiness. Something different going on here, this G&M Discovery Caol Ila 13 Years kicks up more than you might imagine and pulls together rough Islay and refined pasty style notes and weaves them together. FINISH Long -> Smoke, honey, vanilla, herbal and spice that fades out to a dessert-style profile that just gives and gives. The finish is stunning.

OK, so as I climb the smoke ladder this one is a jump for me. Having said that, I spent a decent amount of time getting used to the Aroma. At first just a campfire. But then Apple pie, melon and some grilled pineapple. Flavor is much less Smokey than the Aroma suggested. Honey, pear some grainy cereal notes then a lot of bitterness in the finish.. This is where the smoke lingers. Suddenly a memory came to me from youth. Sore throat spray Chloraseptic. My God that's exactly what it tastes like. The first time I thought to myself that I will eventually climb the ladder to enjoying some Islay selections. The journey continues. (don't have a sore throat today!)

A prominently peaty nose with plenty of butterscotchy sweetness to keep the smoke from being suffocating. Decidedly smooth and sweet on the palate while connoting dried fruit and cereal; the peat is present, but lets the other flavors out to play. The finish falls off quickly at first but lingers as a mild spicy heat. Intended to showcase the possibilities of peat? Check. I imagine it should cater to both the fans of a smokier scotch as well as those looking to explore them as well.

Heavenly aroma. I get almost all peat but it's not overpowering. It's dark and almost subtle. Flavor actually kind of matches, it's all pretty subtle and subdued for me. Peat is there but is gentle, some light sweetness and wood but everything quiet. Color is light as well, almost like everything was watered down, but it's still plenty rich. The gentle flavor feels intentional, refined.

The nose and palate are mostly pears, citrus. Smoke actually appears only afterthe alcohol burn at the very end of the finish. Which is a weird disconnect, as if I am drinking two different scotches. Not overly complex. I am not a big fan of caol Ila 12 or Johnnie Walker and this didn't change my mind.