Wednesday 2 May 2018

Clynelish trio: 1995 Maltbarn #54 49.9%, 1995 Whisky-Fassle 52.7% and 1995 Speciality Drinks cask #10193 57.5%

After falling in love with Clynelish 21 yo Maltbarn distilled in 1995 I decided to have one day a few more Clynelish samples distilled the same year, maybe that is its golden year to be compared with 1972 for Tobermory or 1975 for Benriach?.. 

Clynelish 21 yo 1995/2016 Maltbarn #54 49.9% - 169 bottles released, bourbon cask maturation.

Nose: fresh and I'd say straight-laced Clynelish on green apples, wax, minerals and salt. Little touch of green vegetables as well. Very elegant one. 

Taste: mineral and salty with lots of bitter lemonade. Nothing to complain about.

Finish: lo-o-ng, utmost waxiness and minerality make your taste buds grow dumb. Salt and citrus of course. 

Overall: perfect mineral Clynelish. Almost unavailable at the moment. 

Score = 23 22.5 22.5 23, 91/100!


Clynelish 19 yo 1995/2014 Whisky-Fassle 52.7% - the so called Duck label, matured in bourbon hogshead. 

Nose: little bit closed at the beginning, hints of dusty green apples, ginger, fermented lemonade, whiffs of sweet tropical fruits (bananas and mangos). 

Taste: waxy and citrusy, both sweet and mineral, touch of vanilla and oak, notch more powerful than Maltbarn.

Finish: very long with lots of apples, wax, dill water, cream and honey. 

Overall: it does have the same minerals and candlewax, though is sweeter and fruitier than Maltbarn. Matter of taste actually, I liked both of them. 

Score = 22.5 23 22.5 23, 91/100!


Clynelish 18 yo 1995/2014 Speciality Drinks cask #10193 57.5% - bourbon hogshead, 265 bottles released. 

Nose: fresh one, first you get chalk, clay, wax and lime. Then it brings green apples, tropical fruits and mint (!), lasts and lasts for ages. 

Taste: burst of lime, minerals and pepper. With water (which is recommended) there appear wax, vanilla, tangerines and chalk. 

Finish: very long, slight hint of smoke, spicy, ripe pears and bitter limes. 

Overall: stunning Clynelish combining fruity and mineral sides of the spirit, just add some water and it will do the rest of the job. 

Score = 23 23 23.5 23 23, 92/100!


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