Clynelish 1996 Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask 21 yo

 

 

 

51,6°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands 

Sherry Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Morrison and MacKay

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 8 ppm

 

 

 

This is the second bottling from the Celebration of the Cask range that I've had the pleasure of tasting. The previous one is quite simply my favourite whisky, so expectations are high. A Clynelish matured in a sherry single cask for 21 years, and shared in 293 bottles, it can't be bad anyway.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A rather dry, almost cereal-like sherry at first, followed by tasty fruits, prunes, mirabelles, mixed with damp old wood, Madeira, fleshy, fat earth, the wind in the wheat. Perhaps a hint of iodine? No, it's more the fruits that have macerated, ointment rather than wax, and a hint of lemon. Apricot. Quince jam. Shade of peat. Clay. After a while, a light smoke sublimates the whole. A dash of vanilla. Slight bitterness on the palate, followed very quickly by spices: cumin, pepper, nutmeg. Prickly pear, melon. A touch of coffee. The finish is very long and powerful, with an espresso flavour, hazelnut, coffee grounds, chocolate beans.

 

In Short, 

This one is rather original for a Clynelish, less waxed, less exotic fruits, more macerated fruits. The lemon is discreet. Nevertheless, it is excellent, even beautiful, with notes of earth and smoke that give it good depth. But the spices are still a little strong on the palate. All in all, it's a pure delight to savour, and there's no need to hesitate if you find one last copy, provided, of course, you have the right bank account.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly

Clynelish 1996 Connoisseurs Choice

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands

Refill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & McPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2013 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 8 ppm

 

 

 

Connoisseurs Choice is a prestigious collection of the Gordon & MacPhail bottler. It brings together only first choice whiskies, but not always in cask strength, as is the case here, we have a Clynelish of at least 16 years old having aged in a single cask of sherry, but it is reduced to 46°. 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's very waxy, like biting into a candle, dust, old furniture, ashen smoke, a pinch of peat, and then the fruits appear. Iodised lemon, unripe mirabelle plum, plantains and frécinettes. Braised pineapple. Litchi. Old varnished wood. Biscuits filled with genoise. Some floral hints. Lemon cream, grilled corn. And ears of wheat. On the palate, it's fresh at first, sweet, fruity, plums, hot chestnuts, until light spices, paprika and cumin start to pop out. Nutmeg. Oak bark. The finish is long and slightly acidic, with cola, black berries, chocolate and juicy figs.

 

In Short, 

A purely Clynelish profile on the nose, with lots of wax, lemon and exotic fruits. It’s perfect. Slightly weaker on the palate, where the fruits are slightly broken by strong spices. All in all, an excellent, very subtle bottling, which could be found at a good price at the time. Sold out for a long time, it would be surprising to find a bottle today, even on the second market. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                    Bon Iver - Blindsided

Port Charlotte 2008 Octomore Farm 10 yo

 

 

 

62,6°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

This is the second time the distillery has released a special bottling, from Port Charlotte, but with barley from Octomore Farm. The result is a sort of Port Charlotte-Octomore, and 100% Islay of course. Here we have a single cask distilled in 2008, said to be 11 years and a few days old, and released in just 208 bottles, which sold as quickly as a new iphone.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Minty freshness, fermented cereals, fine, grainy peat, candied lemon. The smoke gives it a great fullness. Beautiful balance. Exotic fruits, pineapple, mango, even papaya. Fine sand, limestone, coarse sea salt. Sea breeze. Wheat germ. After a while, the peat really takes hold. Very suave on the palate, as if you were drinking silk, velvety, but the spices rise up, and it really kicks in, pepper, cumin, chilli. Peat in the background, with a hint of diesel. Very strong, powerful finish, rising and falling like a rollercoaster, swamp, mangrove, still quite cerealy though. Very long. At the end, rhubarb, cotton candy. Electricity on the tip of the tongue. Chestnut cream.

 

In Short, 

The result is a rather original Port Charlotte, which combines the qualities of Port Charlotte (exotic fruits) and Octomore (beautiful cereal intensity), with a very strong, but not stifling, peatiness. Of course, it's completely sold out, and unaffordable on the secondary market. But if you're an enthusiast, you must try it at least once.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Fink - Pilgrim