Clynelish 18 Year Old 1997 The Whisky Mercenary for Dram 4 ALS

Dram 4 ALS is an initiative by severl whisky friends to raise money for ‘A Heart for ALS’, a non-profit organization that supports research into this neuromuscular disease. One of the bottlings is this 18 years old Clynelish from – you guessed it – 1997.

It is wonderfully waxy on the nose, as was to be expected. And equally fruity. Think red fruit: raspberry and strawberry. While there is no mention on the label, the nose (and certainly the color) strongly suggest a sherry cask. The fact that I also get some sniffing tobacco, oranges and marzipan only strengthens me in that conviction. Some juicy honey and apricot pastry make this a wonderfully sweet and rich nose.

The arrival is simply feisty! Spicy on ginger, pepper, mint and woodspice which puts a nice frame around the fruit, although that is somewhat subdued to the oak. There is even a green hint in there. Basil? And a single drop of balsamic vinegar.

The finish is long and warm on more of the same.

Where is the party? The party is right here! Nice, round and very fruity Clynelish.

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