Clynelish 14 Year Old

Sometimes I don’t understand the variation in scores given to a whisky in online reviews, and other times I completely understand. Clynelish 14 fits into the latter. It’s a peculiar one, and I can appreciate the disparity of opinions it will provoke. It’s simply not made to fit everyone’s tastes. But it is good, and it’s one of those malts you’ll remember if not for its quality, then at least for its character.

Nose: Honey, vanilla, apples, pears, oak, sea air, lemon rind, marmalade, nutmeg, ginger and LOADS of perfume/floral notes. Seriously floral.

Palate: Medium bodied and slightly oily. A bit fizzy. We’re greeted by vanilla, honey, beeswax, apples, pears, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger, and an entire meadow of flowers.

Finish: BIG perfume flavours continue to dominate the taste. Aside from the floral notes we have some gentle smoke, butter, apples, pears, cinnamon, brine, oak, and white pepper. Medium finish with some solid coastal notes worked in.

Well, this is definitely a distinctive whisky. It’s like walking along a fisherman’s wharf wearing women’s perfume and holding a bouquet of flowers; something I’m sure you all do regularly. While its coastal character might be compared to Old Pulteney, the floral and perfume notes are unmistakably Clynelish. You’d be hard-pressed to find something similarly blossomy. While I do enjoy this, it’s is a whisky that I need to be in the mood for. On some nights it’s just what the doctor ordered, and some nights I feel like I’m drinking my girlfriend’s perfume. That being said, there is an inimitable character and an adherence to quality here. It’s something I thoroughly enjoy when I’m up for it. It’s different and it’s good. Recommended.

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