Clynelish 21 Year (2000), Berry Bros & Rudd “Sutherland” Cask 1432
Whisky: Clynelish 21 Year (2000), Berry Bros & Rudd “Sutherland” Cask 1432
Country/Region: Scotland/Highland
ABV: 50.4%
Cask: Hogshead
Age: 21 Years (Distilled 2000, Bottled 2021)
Nose: Butterscotch and cream with more subtle lemon and melon; fresh soft cheese with thyme and hints of herbal dill and pepper; more subtle notions of white pepper were interspersed with sinus-clearing citrus rind and wood lacquer.
Palate: Medium-bodied, creamy and fatty with ribbons of sweet citrus curd and marmalade; more herbal with time as pepper, lemon rind, and thyme escaped; a touch of oak and olive oil with a mellow sourness toward the end.
Finish: Medium to short, peppery with fatty cream and a twist of lemon.
Score: 5-6 (75)
Mental Image: Lemon Drop Cream Cheese Spread
Narrative & Notes: I initially tried this blind as part of an online whisky group mystery advent calendar. A few samples got a bit delayed and became more like a year-round mystery series. Citrus and cream were the dominant characteristics, while herbs, pepper, and oak hung further in the background. The aroma featured more depth to the spice than the palate, though there intriguingly nutty notes of olive oil and a mellow sourness came through. Honestly, this was not to my taste at all— it felt simple and rather discordant, which was a shame as I enjoyed some of the elements individually.
Based on the cream and citrus notes I guessed this was a young teen Miltonduff with an outside chance it could be an Auchroisk. It turned out I was way off, this was a 20-Year Sutherland (Clynelish) from Berry Bros. & Rudd. I can see how this would have been a Clynelish, especially in the context of the other reviews this week, but boy it was not my favorite.
Overall, I might need to return my ticket and de-board the Clyenlish hype-train.
