The cask-bill here gathered refill American oak, PX and oloroso. Hope this gumbo won't have offset the Distillery character, but probably not, Diageo do care about Clynelish! What's sure is that it was a good idea to hire Syd Barrett's little nephew to do the names and stories… Colour: straw. Nose: it's pretty fascinating to have this one after the more elementary (in the best sense) TWS. Nutshell, the sherry has erased a part of the bright fruitiness and added some wine, walnuts and teas. English breakfast tea, naturally. With water: a little more fruitiness but walnut skins and other fruit peelings, and even eucalyptus tea tend to dominate. But the paraffin and beeswax are there, hurray. Mouth (neat): the fruits and rather a lot of paraffin are having the upper hand this time. Once more, a little bitter oak coating that, even chlorophyl. With water: very good, if a little cask-heavy indeed. A notch harsh, perhaps, otherwise oranges and a little honey are adding some needed lightness, although this isn't fruity whisky by any means. Finish: rather long, but the oaks and their spices are at the helm. Some raisins from the PX (I would suppose) in the aftertaste, plus a faint saltiness. Comments: super-good, it's just that I shouldn't have had the rather pristine young 2011 just before this one. My bad
Nose: mmm. Sweet Xmas cakes, with lots of sweet muscovado sugar, and sweet danishes topped with carmelized baked red apples, golden syrup, and vanilla custard. More sweet sultanas and dates with stewed orchard fruit (apple, pear, apricots), sweet toffee, and a hint of chalk.
Palate: The palate is thick and oily, with a peppery zing and alcohol heat on the first sensation, then getting sweeter and fruitier with more stewed apples, dried fruit (mainly sultanas), and some spices, in addition to rum-infused dark chocolate Pralines, a drizzle of wild honey too.
Finish: Chocolate, spice, and apple pies, with zingy pepper and lingering sweet sultanas.
Conclusion: A very different Clynelish than I expected, sweet, and lovely but lacking the “waxy” notes we’ve grown accustomed to in whiskies from this distillery. Easy drinking and likable, but not ultra-complex. still enjoyable. Given blind, i would not have guessed this to be a Clynelish for sure.
| Alcohol: | 58.5% |
| Volume: | 70cl |
| Bottled in: | 2022 |
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