Clynelish 18 Year Old 1996 Signatory Single Cask Seasons

Kirsch Whisky Import – a German independent bottler – selected thsi sherry butt from the Signatory warehouse. No less than 676 bottles were drawn from it. The contents: a Clynelish of 18 years old from 1996. It has got a lovely bronze color.

The nose is citrus driven, both fresh and juicy as well as candied. Lime, grapefruit, blood oranges. Then a hint of Turkish Delight surfaces with a lot of mint. The typical waxiness is conspicuously absent, but that does not disturb. When I put my nose in the glass for a second time, the sherry notes jump out. Think raisins and nuts, but also laurel and broth. Hint of sea breeze. Complex and interesting.

The arrival is quite spicy, almost picquant. Loads of pepper and nutmeg. The mint returns, but the fruitiness not so much. It turns slightly bitter from both the oak and some orange peel. The second sip offers op a nice hint of cherries and dried peach. Quite an active cask, I think. But I would never have guessed this was a Clynelish if tasted blind. Nevertheless, quite a taste bomb!

The finish is very long, drying on sweet malt, loads of spices and a hint of sea salt.

A bomb for sure, but not much remains of the distillery character.

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