Clynelish 18 yo 1996/2015 (54.4%, Signatory Vintage, refill sherry butt, cask #6516, 505 bottles) - 190423 Distilled in Sutherland 19 yo 2000/2020 (53.2%, Thompson Bros., Dornoch Castle Whisky Bar 20th Anniversary, refill hogshead, 462 bottles) - 160720 No partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship is created as a result of your use of the Service. The nose is sweet with honey, grapes and some vanilla. The famous wax flavour that people often associate with Clynelish is also there, even unmistakably so. In addition there is a certain spiciness and saltiness that I found rather interesting. All in all a rather complex and very enjoyable nose! Oh, there is a wee bit of a burn - BUT so much taste - sweet - dark - full - that some icing down does it NO harm!! What kind of taste you ask?? Does it matter? Metaphysics aside - it is either worthwhile or not from the existential experience (redundant but meaningful). If you like Mac 15, you will like this though it is different - definitely more aggressive, not quite as smooth and refined.

Wax! First thing that strikes me is that it is a very waxy nose. Having it breathe for a bit allows it some development. Make way for marzipan, Anjou pears, and vanilla. Bourbon barrel.Clynelish 2010/2021 (59.7%, The Single Malts of Scotland, Asia-Pacific exclusive, cask #800204) - 250521 - by Angus - 090422 Clynelish 10 yo 2010 (57.4%, The Single Malts of Scotland, for USA, cask #700051, 228 bottles) - 030321 - by Angus - 130321 Clynelish 16 yo 1997/2014 (48%, Hunter Laing, Distiller's Art, refill hogshead, 242 bottles) - 231014

The smell is initially sea salt, peat, smoke and even a hint of iodine, but gives way to a fruity, vanilla, toffee sweetness. Despite having such strong sounding flavours, it is a genuinely gentle nose. So much so, that after the glass of Smith's 8 Year old, I had to have a glass of water to clear my palate enough to smell anything! Really complex and enjoyable, just not very strong. Clynelish 31 yo 1972/2004 (57.8%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #26.33, 'friar's baslam and cigar boxes') - 190312Clynelish 25 yo 1996/2022 (52.3%, Signatory Vintage, Kirsch Import, sherry butt, cask #11382, 473 bottles) - 190423 A member of the Diageo range, I’d normally assume this to be caramelised and chill-filtered, but this definitely develops a distinct haze when water is added, and is pleasingly bottled at 46% - maybe there is hope for the world?

I’m not really, but, full disclosure, I’m a fan of this whisky and it’s a staple here. But I’m worried it might not hang around forever. 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.We bond with our whisky. Even more so than something you might consider intimate; like a brand we choose to wear or precious tech that we come to rely upon. Whisky is emotional. When it’s taken from us and given to someone else, someone with more money, it smarts. The nose is complex, lightly salted with dry pineapple, a smoky touch and rather flowery. The light peat is upholstered with vanilla and toffee. Lightly peppered and dry. Wonderful perfume, subtle and inviting.

Palate: This is strange. Odd. Peculiar. And completely unexpected. The overwhelming tasting note on my first sip was… Watermelon jolly ranchers? There’s a mouth-watering candied fruit thing going on here that can only be likened to those infamous hard candies of my youth. There was cherry, lemon-lime soda, pear, and artificial melon flavors all melding together. As I continue to sip, the candied flavors settle down and evolve into deeper, richer flavors of light peat, honeydew, and floral notes. The mouthfeel leans more to the creamy, waxier side of the spectrum, providing good body on the palate without feeling soft. There is only the slightest bite and remains overall quite restrained even at 46% ABV. Secret Sutherland 13 yo 2010/2023 (57.3%, Swell de Spirit, Wild Nature Series, first fill bourbon barrel, cask #2531, 360 bottles) - 121023 Clynelish 12 yo 2005/2018 (55.1%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice, refill sherry butt, cask #308764, 518 bottles) - 100818 Nose: The first impression is a massive rush of strawberry followed immediately by mandarin and fruit of passion. Then you have vanilla, oak and salt. After my glass has rest for 10 minutes some wood spices appeared with quite some mint. This is my own personal bottle that I opened in October of 2013, and as of April it is about half full. I have tasted this bottle on 5 occasions with notes (83, 86, 86, 85, 83). The following represents my overall impression of this bottle as it relates to six different Brora’s tasted one night in April.Clynelish 16 yo 1992/2009 (46%, The Single Malts of Scotland, bourbon barrel, cask #5871, 293 bottles) - 220110 Clynelish 24 yo 1996/2021 (52.2%, Hunter Laing, The First Editions for HNWS Taiwan, hogshead, cask #18250, 258 bottles) - 301222