Clynelish 15 Year (1997), Anam na h'Alba Cask 6480
Whisky: Clynelish 15 Year (1997), Anam na h'Alba Cask 6480
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 52.2%
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
Age: 15 Years (Distilled 1997, Bottled 2013)
Nose: Gentle sweetness, citrus, wood, cereals, hints of salt; more herbal spice and wood with time, hints of coffee.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied, bright citrus, honey, grains, wood; pastries and jammy citrus preserves.
Finish: Medium-length with citrus, wood, and a touch of peppery spirit.
Score: 6-7 (80)
Mental Image: Waking to the Smell of Breakfast
Narrative & Notes: Gentle and sweet with citrusy lemon peel and creamy cooked cereals arriving as slightly salty kelp broth hid in the background. A touch of grain chaff carried the citrus rinds toward thyme and herbal spices. It was all very stately, like stepping into a well-tended bed and breakfast with hints of coffee, oak, and breakfast cooking in the kitchen. Medium to light-bodied with bright citrus, honey, cooked grains, and lacquered wood. The profile was a continental breakfast of cooked oats, orange juice, malty pastries, and orange marmalade with a kiss of ginger. A touch herbal on the back end, like thyme and rosemary scones with a touch of tart preserves and salt to bring it alive. The finish was medium-length with citrus, wood, and a touch of peppery spirit.
Uncomplicated and enjoyable, this mid-teen Clynelish lacked the hefty, waxy mouthfeel that fanatics of the distillery hunt down, though the oiliness on the palate gradually took on a waxier feel about halfway through. It was not a complex beast, but it was deceptively easy to drink and presented all of the citrusy and sweet malty notes I expect to find on Clynelish with mellower notions of herbs or something almost floral between notions of thyme and oak.
