Glendullan 1997 Connoisseurs Choice vs Glen Keith 1993 Connoisseurs Choice
The Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice series is an old one that’s been refreshed many times over. We’ve seen the original brown paper label iteration under which many old 60s and 70s malts had been bottled. This pair on hand were bottled in 2011 and I believe there’s already been one label redesign since. What has not changed, however, was the original purpose as intended by G&M – this range was intended as an entry level showcase of less available distilleries at their basic drinking strength. Consequentially, and I love this, the modern Connoisseurs Choice were were generally drawn from an refill ex bourbon palette making them usually very naked and honest whiskies.
Glendullan 1997 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice 43% ~bottled 2011
Nose: Buttery malty naked whisky, very natural but also very middle of the road, exactly what a great blending malt should be. Dusty hay, cereals, medium oiliness. Some warm minerals, and shades of yellow like pollen and honey and also some citrus zest. Fair weight, not heavy or light. Quite archetypical so … building blocks of a decent blended whisky.
Palate: Yes medium bodied, malty-sweet, some light butter, toasty honey, hay and sunshine , some light pepper, barest hints of oak lactones. Gets drying with some crispness to the finish
Finish: Medium, hot minerals, warm cereals. Dry crisp finish.
Glen Keith 1993 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice 46% ~bottled 2011
Nose: Surprise! These Glen Keiths have been surprising me of late. A swelling but indistinct fruitiness begging to be cultivated, some green freshness, like green kiwis or green grapes, tart and fruity at the same time. Clear vegetable oil, light and supple in the glass. Not a very malty or heavy sort of whisky. Just good whisky from a very underappreciated distillery.
Palate: Fruity sweet, like a multi fruit vitamin juice – with a fair citrus portion it seems. Medium light body, gentle oiliness, fizzy buzz. If you like these single cask Irish Single Malts, or 90s Littlemill, this is one distillery to watch.
Finish: Medium, fairly sweet, some oils and biscuits. Wholesome.
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- Highland Park 21 yo 1961 / 1983 Broadwell Vintners by R.W Duthie 46% vs Highland Park 27 yo 1968 Hart Brothers 43%
- Laphroaig 1968 Sestante Pinerolo Import 40% ~triangular bottle vs Laphroaig 1968 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 55.3%
- Port Ellen 1969 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 63.1%
- Caol Ila 1969 Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail ‘brown label’ 40% vs Caol Ila 1969 Gordon & Macphail for Donini 58.1%
- Mortlach 1969 Gordon & Macphail for Donini 56.3%
- Irish Single Malt 24 yo 1991 / 2016 Formosa Whisky Society #12019 48.2% vs Irish Single Malt 28 yo 1989 / 2018 The Perfect Dram 49.9%
- Longmorn 1964 James MacArthur 57.5% vs Longmorn 1976 James MacArthur 54.7%
- Lochside 20 yo 1981 / 2001 Blackadder #615 58.4% vs Lochside 20 yo 1981 / 2001 SMWS 92.10 61%
- Ardbeg 24 yo Cadenhead for Sestante 54.4% ~ attributed 1965
- Craigellachie 1991 / 2010 Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail 43% vs Craigellachie 44.115 12 yo 2007 / 2019 SMWS 60.8%
