August 11, 2015

Clynelish 1996 1995 1994

A pretty ‘square’ session with Clynelish from mid-1990s vintages. Not the first time we’re doing this, and most certainly – and hopefully - not the last.

Clynelish 18 yo 1995/2014 (43%, Signatory Vintage, Decanter Collection, refill sherry, cask #8669, 873 bottles)

Probably a butt according to the vast amount of bottles drawn from just one cask – even at 43% vol. Colour: gold. Nose: sometimes Clynelish plus sherry creates dissonances, especially too much leather/flints, but in this case it’s all very okay. We’re rather on honey cake, chocolate, tobacco and liquorice, with good balance despite the (relative) lack of Clynelish character. One of the easiest I could try recently. Mouth: the Clynelishness comes out, with waxy oranges and a very faint salty side, which combines well with the leather and walnuts that should come from the butt. The 43% vol. feel like holidays, no need to toy with Vittel and any pipettes. Cool. Finish: it’s the salty side that comes to the front, which comes unexpected. As if the butt used to shelter manzanilla… Comments: an easy, but anti-dull Clynelish that you could quaff and quaff (and quaff). Dangerous whisky! I find it excellent, and remember, holidays! SGP:462 - 87 points.

But back to work ;-)…

Clynelish 19 yo 1995/2014 (48.4%, Duncan Taylor, Dimensions, cask #4676, 221 bottles)

Colour: deep gold. Nose: fine nose, rather US oak-dominated but balanced, with vanilla, bananas, pears, apples… There’s also a chalkiness and whiffs of effervescent aspirin tablets. More fresh garden fruits after a while, gooseberries… Not a very Clynelishian Clynelish so far. Mouth: the oak’s loud and, well, oaky. Drying arrival, then orange peels, more vanilla, grass… There are touches of wax, obviously, but again, it doesn’t feel very ‘Clynelish’. Reminds me of late 1970s vintages that were pretty orchardy as well, with little wax and ‘Clynelish stuff’. Plums, greengages, grass… Finish: quite long, a little acrid. Green apples and oak. Comments: not quite my kind of Clynelish. It’s got a bizarre ‘Lowlands’ style, pretty un-big for Clynelish. SGP:551 - 80 points.

Clynelish 18 yo 1996/2015 (55.5%, Signatory Vintage for The Whisky Exchange, refill sherry, cask #6509, 606 bottles)

Probably a butt again. Colour: deep gold. Nose: starts with chocolate and mint plus porcinis and cigars. I agree a perfect lunch. Gets then ‘extremely more’ complex, with old herbal liqueurs, sawn fruit trees, liquorice wood, aquavit (caraway for sure), walnut stain… We’re almost nosing an old amontillado. Not sure the distillate has much of the floor so far, but the whole’s great. With water: old books and papers, walnut wine, earth, wet grass, wet dogs (hello, dogs!), old wines… Mouth (neat): bitter oranges, leather, tobacco, strong liquorice and bitter chocolate. Notes of heavy Demerara rum. Big stuff, as they say in Sumo. With water: its now that the distillate speaks out. Waxy oranges and orangey waxes, pepper, a little brine... Finish: very long but clean. Comments: what great with these bottlings is that even if it’s very big whisky, it never gets tiring. In other words, it’s moreish. SGP:562 - 89 points.

We have a winner but three isn’t square enough. Let’s have a fourth one…

Clynelish 20 yo 1994/2015 (55.4%, Cadenhead, Sherry Cask)

Despite the fact that they’re fabulous people, working in a great company, located in a great place, located in a great country, I’ve never been a total fan of Cadenhead’s sherried Clynelishes. But things may change… Colour: deep gold/amber. Nose: odd indeed. I’m not saying it’s not pleasant, but where else have you seen a combination of bubblegum with Havana cigars? Nowhere else, I’m sure. Having said that, I’m not against these notes of dried porcinis, old smoky barrels, and dried-out raisins. Almost forgot to mention carbolinium and wet concrete after a heavy summer shower in a large city (wot?) With water: not too sure. Things may have improved a bit. Gin and tonic? Mouth (neat): Kayne West singing Bohemian Rhapsody. Something’s out of tune, and I remember that also used to happen with sherried Bowmores that were available around 2000. Laphroaigs as well, by the way. Jell-O? Lavender perfume? Burt Reynolds’ aftershave lotion? With water: swims relatively well. Orange-scented candle wax. Finish: long and, really, better. I mean, more to my liking, - apologies, Mum. Bitter oranges, Schweppes, damp pepper, sawdust. Comments: Mr M., you were right! But it’s not that un-whiskyfun ;-). What’s more, I’m certainly not the arbiter of whisky taste! SGP:562 - 79 points.

Check the index of all Clynelish I've tasted so far