The Belgian shop The Bonding Dram is very well known in Northern Europe; the world has also known its potential as a selector thanks to some reviews by Ruben; the same people are responsible for the excellent whiskysamples service, which allows most people to access whisky often of the highest level, often independent, often bottled several years ago. Today, trusting Ruben’s judgment, we taste a 15 year old Clynelish aged in hogshead #5733. The color is straw yellow. We thank – a lot! – Luca for the sample.
N: that’s why we like Clynelish! Alcohol is practically disappeared, unlike the immediate knowledge of complexity: multifaceted, but the most extended face is certainly the ‘sweet’ one. The barrel has given a lot, with contributions of vanilla, marzipan, custard… the general suggestion, but very clear, is “pandoro”! Then there are more unexpected hints, like a very intense coconut; and later infinite nuances, citrus peel, spicy woods, cut flowers, maybe pear… But here we have also Clynelish’s hallmarks: traces of candle wax, very composite, of olive oil, then an almost salty minerality…
P: what a creamy body… here the factors are reversed: first a delicious sensation of wax and olive oil that envelops the palate; then the fruit deflagrates, detonated by an orange jubilation. Still a lot of coconut, a lot of almond paste, a lot of yellow fruit… Beyond everything, the perfect integration of alcohol and the remarkable intensity of all the flavors involved, which include, not least, the typical brand of the beautiful biscuity malt of Clynelish.
F: a full, intense and very long finish: between the sweetness (plumcake and an impressive coconut) and a delicious waxy minerality. Almond oil.
Just a few words are enough: a perfect 15-year-old Clynelish, more ‘sweet’ than austere, especially on the nose, always balanced, always very intense, without any unpleasant intervention of alcohol. Ruben thinks so, Serge thinks so. We’ll give it 90/100, and we add: when it came out it was 65 euros… Ardbeg, watch and learn (so to speak, because we know they are different things and proportions).
Recommended soundtrack: The Clash – Should I stay or should I go? Stay, please, because in Brora life is sweet…
