Whisky Focus - Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Tormore 1997 Review

Review of Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Tormore 1997.

Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Tormore 1997 was matured in 1st Fill Bourbon barrels and bottled on the 6th May 2014 at 46% ABV.

The Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ range was launched in the mid-1960s’. Until this time, many of the whiskies the range featured would not have been available as single malt. Today, Connoisseurs Choice retains this exclusive nature with a range of rare and sought after single malts from distilleries throughout Scotland including this Tormore 1997 Speyside single malt whisky.

William Morrison's Tasting Notes:

Nose:  Sweet coconut, custard cream, lemon and pear.

Taste: Barley sugar, vanilla and honey sweetness, a mix of candied and poached pear, a little zesty orange, a little grassy, a hint of cinnamon and just a touch of oak spice and pepper.

Finish: Refreshingly long. More vanilla and mildly candied fruit, the oak spice comes more to the fore.

Comment: Loved it! My scoring of this went up with every mouthful. So many whisky producers are trying to substitute age with 1st Fill Bourbon barrels these days but when you get a whisky that has been matured for a decent number of years in 1st Fill Bourbon, around 17 years in this case, you end up with and very complex and in this case very good whisky confirming Gordon & MacPhail's philosophy that it is the wood that makes the whisky but also the time spent in the wood.

SMW Score 87/100

You can find the full current Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice whisky range available from specialist Whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange

As part of the ongoing series of reviews to demonstrate Gordon & MacPhail's philosophy of ‘The Wood Makes the Whisky’ I have reviewed a number of single malt whiskies from Gordon & MacPhail's whisky Collections: Connoisseurs Choice, The MacPhail’s Collection and Rare Vintage, which demonstrate their philosophy of "The Wood Makes The Whisky".

Recently added Gordon & MacPhail "The Wood Makes The Whisky" reviews:

• Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Tomatin 1997
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice BenRiach 1997
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Ledaig 1999
   
• The MacPhail's Collection Bunnahabhain 2006

Previous Gordon & MacPhail "The Wood Makes The Whisky" reviews:

• Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Smith's Glenlivet 1974
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Speymalt Macallan 2006
   
• The MacPhail's Collection Glenrothes 8 Years Old
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Speyburn 1991
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels Ardmore 1996
   
• The MacPhail's Collection Bunnahabhain 8 Years Old
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Glen Grant 1954

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