Category-Single Malt, Distillery-Clynelish, Bottler-The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), Bottling serie-Oaky fruit sorbet, Vintage-08.02.2011, Bottled-2021, Stated Age-10 years old, Cask type-1st Fill Ex-Bourbon, Barrel Cask number-26.191, Number of bottles-211, Strength-58.7 %, Vol/Size-700 ml
This whisky was blind tasted with the Blind Tasting Consortium’s 19th session, the whiskies were selected by Callum (@glen_scotia) and Kate (@kccjf), both Twitter, as it was their 30th wedding anniversary.
Appearance
Light gold, more damp straw this time, with a medium thick swirl line, giving an all over glass film and several teardrops.
Nose
Initially this is red berries mixed with damp leaf litter and evergreen boughs. More time brings balsa wood, wood wax and some perfume.
palate
Straight away we’re into a nice mouthfeel, it’s gently warming, with a touch of hubba bubba bubble gum. More time at it’s real mix of fruit and spice, with red berries, cream soda, plenty of wood, white pepper, cherry bakewells, throat lozenges, and chilli’s.
Finish
Long and warming still, does feel like my palate is being slightly anaesthetised, I’d also say there’s a hazelnut feel to this, with black coffee.
My thoughts
Of the 5 blind samples in this tasting i put this offering last place with 3 out of 5 points, and on finding out what whisky it is i was rather disappointed. In whisky circles Clynelish is spoken about with hushed tones of reverence, it’s waxiness in particular is always something spoken about, but. Considering this bottle is cask strength, non chill filtered and natural in colour, it had everything going for it, it could potentially have been a “belter”. I was disappointed with it, which i thought odd for a SMWS bottling, and then to find out it’s “Clynelish” left me feeling a little confused if i’m honest. Going back to it for this review, to make sure i was happy with my blind tasting notes, i again was left feeling a little “meh” about it, oh well, onto the next one.
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