This Clynelish was distilled 18.10.1996 and bottled 23.11.2017, for 21 years maturing in a refill sherry butt #8796. This is bottle #41, which is natural color and non-chill-filtered, but sadly not Cask Strength.
Clynelish 1996 Signatory 21 / 46% ABV / £120
Tasted neat
Despite being only 3 years since bottle date, there is some degradation to the cork, which has stuck to the bottle neck a little bit.
- Color: burnished (1.1)
- Nose: sherry, strawberries, sugar cane, and molasses
- Taste: waxy and bright, a fruit salad with unpeeled apples, some oak and vanilla
- Finish: medium and fruity
This is a lovely Clynelish with a soft sherry treatment; the refill butt was gentle and hasn’t overwhelmed, but instead it’s given it a nicely refreshing fruity-berries character.
Rating: 90/100
