Clynelish 12 Year, 2022 Special Release
Whisky: Clynelish 12 Year, 2022 Special Release
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 58.5%
Cask: Refill American Oak, PX and Oloroso Sherry Finish
Age: 12 Years (Bottled 2022)
Nose: Rich and spicy, holiday baking spices dueling against barbecue spice rub, honey, molasses, slightly meaty, black currants.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied meaty and spicy, plum sauce, brown sugar, black vinegar, peppercorn, currants, subtle nuttiness, mild spirited prickle, molasses, leather toward the end.
Finish: Medium-length and drying, molasses, peppercorns, meat, slow fade to dried tropical fruit.
Score: 6-7
Mental Image: Mala Duck Neck
Narrative & Notes: The aroma was a rich and well-spiced clash between holiday baking spices and a spiced barbecue rub. Brown sugar, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey, molasses, paprika, and pepper joined the spicy mosh pit while richer notes of black currants and cassis jam stared down meaty notes of duck breast prosciutto and smoked duck neck. Medium to full-bodied, the flavor profile was equally as spicy and meaty though more coherent with notes that read like a shopping list for a meaty marinade: plum sauce, brown sugar, black vinegar, Szechuan peppercorns, black peppercorn, molasses, and clove. A subtle nuttiness appeared near the end with a mild spirited prickle and laminated leather. The finish was medium-length and drying with an initial mix of molasses, peppercorns, and meat before slowly fading to dried tropical fruits.
Spicy yet savory and occasionally creamy, this was not the fruity, waxy Clynelish I expected to find. It was far meatier than any Clynelish I have encountered without any characteristic citrus and wax— though maybe those notes transformed under the blanket of sherry covering everything. I understand that not every member of the Clynelish faithful was thrilled with this year’s special edition; as a more casual observer, I thought this was a fascinating malt that showed a keen balance between cask elements.
Overall, I rated the artwork as the weakest part of this whisky. While the price, $200, according to my quick web search, is unattractive and not very advantageous for a 12-year-old malt, at least this was tasty, enjoyable, and a different take on Clynelish. I will not be running out to buy a bottle, but it was far better than I expected, based on some early reviews.
Weekly Theme: Clynelish
Image Credit: Visit Scotland
Imagine there was a distillery called Clynelish, and then a new distillery was built next door and then also called Clynelish. That was precisely what happened in 1967 with Clynelish B opened next to Clynelish A, sometimes referred to as Old Clynelish and New Clynelish. The confusing situation did not last for long as Old Clynelish was mothballed in 1968 and then reopened to at least a limited extent in 1969 under the name Brora, which locals had long used to refer to the old distillery. So Clynelish, or the distillery we know as Clynelish today, was the new kid on the block who took over the name of the old distillery.
The distillery ranks right in the top 25 largest distilleries in Scotland by theoretical capacity. It might very well be getting close to producing 4.8 million liters annually, as the distillery currently operates seven days a week. Single malts from Clynelish remain popular and well-regarded for their crisp citrus and waxy elements; the distillery is also a key ingredient for Diageo’s blending team and forms a central part of the Johnnie Walker range. Not only is the distillery’s malt in high demand, but it also has an impressive and modern visitor’s center for those faithful who come on a pilgrimage.
