Clynelish 11yo 1982-1993 66.7% Cadenhead's
A clynelish at this %abv, will the peat be overpowered by the high strength? This was distilled in the mid eighties when the future for scottish distilleries didn't look so bright. Anyway, Rocketfuel, here we go.. The colour is light, the smell burns the nostrils, extreme in every way, the peat is evident but the alcohol does the most of the talking. Some restrained mint and vanilla as well. Kind of exciting. The taste is sweet, peppery and lots of vanilla, custard, rhubarb, strawberries, red onions, dry, lots of spices, garlic, herbal butter and dried meat. There's a lot going on here, but its all very good and reconciled as the high strength just improves all the good flavors.
Perfect, nothing more, nothing less, my third one so far I think: 10
Clynelish 12yo 40% OB Gordon & Macphail 70's
about half the age up from the previous three, Clynelish is one that I know is talked much abot when it comes to older whiskies from the 80's and back, but not as much what recent versions is concerned. I have yet to fall for this whisky as much as many others. Can this old&young version convince me? Smells peaty and fresh, certainly a highland style that can be found in Balblair and Ben Nevis amongst others. Fresh mountain air, creme brulé, and dark roasted peppers. The taste is sweet, peppery, peaty, fresh, mountain air, wild berries, green bananas and indian spices i.e. garam masala.
Quite amazing: 8
Clynelish 14yo 46% OB
I've sure waited a long time before trying this one. I have recently tried other nice expressions of this malt, hopefully the 14yo will show to be all its cracked up to. It smells peppery, waxy, dusty, really old style and friendly malt. The taste is again extremely peppery, peaty, the extreme peatiness I find in some of the Islays, for instance Laphroaig and Lagavulin. It works to a certain extent but it lacks the saltiness to stand out alongside the peat.
Maybe my expectations were too high here: 4.5
Clynelish 10yo 43% OB Hedges & Butler
I don't know this IB or where it comes from, and the bottle is made of plastic, I've only tried one plastic bottled whisky before and that was a Tomintoul OB. Golden colour, smells of restrained peat and fresh highland notes, a double-sided whisky? The taste is light and creamy, excessive highland style with a finish of nice oaky peat. This is a perfect light starter whisky with enough peat to make it stand apart from other highland malts. Better than many of the Broras and older Clynlishes I've tried.
Light, fat, creamy, peaty, all in perfect order: 7.5
Clynelish 13yo 1995-2008 58.2% Signatory Vintage
A young CS from this peated highlander, Smells lovely, mountain air, sea breeze, the best of two worlds, amazingly fresh and clean. The taste is waxy and sour, red grapes. It needs some water as the taste is very intense, but if you like lots of wax upon some sour and bitter grapes, take it neat. The taste is is much stronger when water's added. Much better bare, water makes it spirity and nothing else happens, reminds me now of some Littlemills.
Good alone, rubbish with water: 4.5
Clynelish 15yo 1992-2007 43% OB DE
Distillers edition finished in Oloroso sherry cask from Clynelish. Smells round, floral, light, burnt pork fat, oily meat stock, a strange smell. The taste is waxy, peppery, woody, not as sophisticated as the 14yo unfortunately. This could benefit from a higher strength as it is kind of bland. The aftertaste is short and burnt, I'm afraid I'm still no fan of these Distillery Edition double maturations.
Nice and gentle Clynelish: 5.5
Clynelish 10yo 1992-2002 59.8% James MacArthur Cask Strength
This one is immensely strong, and needs to be diluted, it smells of chlorine and antibacterial liquid. It's a very pale malt, at the paler end of the white wine scale. No doubt this is bourbon-matured. Very soft an mellow at first, white bread, cereals and some vanilla. The aftertaste is a powerful punch of pepper and salty bisquits. A bit too macho for me, but anyhow, not bad at all.
Just a simple whisky: 4
Clynelish 15yo 1980-1995 43% Signatory Vintage
Warm and zesty odor, a combination of honey, mustard and barbeque on this Brora-successor. It has an evident sting of alcohol, but aside from that it is unfortunately very moderate. There are something peppery going on, needs some water, reminds me of some of the young Bowmores.
Pretty robust, but not much more: 2
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