Clynelish 14 Year Old 2005 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice

Last year Gordon & Macphail gave their Connoisseurs Choice – the core range – a completely new look. This young Clynelish can still be found as it was recently bottled, for around 105 EUR.

Fairly mineral, herbal and waxy nose on peach, nettles, yellow apples and liquorice. And I must admit, at first the nose doesn’t really rock my boat. But if you leave it to breathe for a while, it becomes more interesting. More layered. Sometimes you have to be patient.

The body is surprisingly light and oily, but the typical beeswax is conspicuously absent. Again quite mineral and herbal, though. And spicy. White pepper galore, making it difficult for the fruit to shine through. Don’t get me wrong, it is good, but lacks the fruitiness I have come to expect from Clynelish. Tannins makes it even somewhat bitter and dry.

The finish is long, drying and bittersweet.

A solid Clynelish, but not a champion.

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