Whisky : Cladach; Diageo 2018 Special Release

Country/Region : Scotland/Blend

ABV : 57.1%

Cask : First Fill Ex-Bourbon, Refill European Oak, Refill Ex-Sherry European Oak.

Nose : Fruity, malty, with just a kiss of smoke off a backyard grill.  Sweet citrusy lime, melon, and watermelon rind give way to warm oatmeal cookies with vanilla icing.  Faintly herbal notes emerge along with salt, smoke, and sweet acrid pool chemicals.

Palate : Medium to lighter body it opens sweet and salty with a hint of swimming pool chemicals.  Lovely sweet citrus oil, grapefruit, dried tropical citrus, melon rinds, and condensed milk.  Maltiness comes through at the end with caramelized sugar and lemon juice inside a toasty crêpe.

Finish :  Lingering vanilla, citrus, and caramelized plantains.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Nighttime Dip at the Indoor Pool 

Notes :  This was really good.  I had no idea what to expect going into it as the theme of Diageo “coastal” (or nearly coastal) distilleries sounded a bit gimmicky, but this was easily one of my favorite blends.  It really hit that sweet pool chemical note, the one that defined youthful summers.  It is a note that I strongly associate with hotel swimming pools as well, and no childhood hotel visit was complete without an evening swim in a very well chlorinated hotel pool.  My siblings and I always thought this was the greatest treat possible, but looking back it was probably planned my parents to exhaust us so we would be quiet in the hotel room.

This special blend from Diageo combined Caol Ila, Clynelish, Lagavulin, Oban, Inchgower, and Talisker.  This was the odd duck of the 2018 Special Releases lineup and, as such, it remains relatively available.  The special release blends never get quite the same love as the single malts, which, in this case, is too bad, as this was excellent.