This week’s whisky will come only from bottlers or distilleries who will be at Milano Whisky Festival, like a countdown, to deceive time whilst waiting for a Festival edition full of satisfactions. After a Samaroli expression reviewed a short while ago, we return inside the warehouse of our beloved Clynelish, tasting a recent single cask, aged for 14 years in a bourbon refill barrel and selected by Adelphi. Last year, at the Milanese debut of the young independent Scottish bottler (it’s actually the story of a rebirth, very interesting), we had the opportunity to appreciate some of their products and we still remember this Clynelish very well…
N: for his ABV, alcohol really feels as low as possible. The aromas are free and overflow from the glass like a fountain. First of all, there is great presence of honey and wax that immediately remind us of Brora. However, what we do find astonishing is the successful marriage with the barrel: the distillate in this case has been strongly marked by the cask (and in a good way!). There is a great personality: fragrant, dehydrated fruit (bananas, coconut); apricot jam and chestnut cream (wow!). Then, marzipan; as it opens up with some oxygen, it becomes more and more creamy. Mirages of pandoro, creme caramel, cannoncini with cream! Also spiced woods (sandalwood?). Over time, we find it mineral as well. A character, the latter, accentuated by the addition of a little water. Also the intense marzipan and fruity notes do benefits from the lower ABV, if possible.
P: thermonuclear! It begins with a rare exuberance of fruity flavors. Wide tropical suggestions (coconut and papaya), then a whole orange grove inside a jam jar. Very juicy, it even offers something more: more honey, brown sugar and oily dried fruit (almond oil). It is even slightly peppery at times. With water, everything is rounded: unexpected perspectives show us the return of the distillate, with mineral, peaty and waxy notes.
F: long, really long, suspended between a juicy fruit and a mineral composure.
Sincere congratulations to Adelphi and the great Charles MacLean for the excellent selection, he has been able to put inside a bottle a dram with a thousand faces, intense, demanding but desirable at the same time. Serge also drank it and licked his mustache. Dam, it’s for malts like this that we drink whisky! A nice 92/100.
Recommended soundtrack: 16 Horsepower – Brimstone rock
