- 87
Clynelish 12 Year Old (Special Release 2022) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
Other reviews... White pepper and orange on a wave of high alcohol grow into a spicier proposition with allspice, apple, melon, Chinese pear, and mincemeat. Silky mouthfeel with candied orange, warm sherry notes, and pulsing spices, developing more of a waxy texture mid-palate, followed by a slightly bland ending of vanilla and star fruit. Water enhances the fruitiness, teasing out herbal notes and ground ginger. 87 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...The cask-bill here gathered refill American oak, PX and oloroso. Hope this gumbo won't have offset the Distillery character, but probably not, Diageo do care about Clynelish! What's sure is that it was a good idea to hire Syd Barrett's little nephew to do the names and stories… Colour: straw. Nose: it's pretty fascinating to have this one after the more elementary (in the best sense) TWS. Nutshell, the sherry has erased a part of the bright fruitiness and added some wine, walnuts and teas. English breakfast tea, naturally. With water: a little more fruitiness but walnut skins and other fruit peelings, and even eucalyptus tea tend to dominate. But the paraffin and beeswax are there, hurray. Mouth (neat): the fruits and rather a lot of paraffin are having the upper hand this time. Once more, a little bitter oak coating that, even chlorophyl. With water: very good, if a little cask-heavy indeed. A notch harsh, perhaps, otherwise oranges and a little honey are adding some needed lightness, although this isn't fruity whisky by any means. Finish: rather long, but the oaks and their spices are at the helm. Some raisins from the PX (I would suppose) in the aftertaste, plus a faint saltiness. Comments: super-good, it's just that I shouldn't have had the rather pristine young 2011 just before this one. My bad. 84 points - whiskyfun.com