Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 56.7%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Additional Coloring: No
Owner: J& A Mitchell & Co Ltd.
Average price: € 120.00
Official website: www.cadenhead.scot/
Vote: 77/100
I’ve been stocking up on samples from Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection, so expect a few reviews to pop up from time to time.
Here I was intrigued by the bottling of a Clynelish, generally a very elegant spirit, in a seemingly ‘ordinary’ guise were it not for the cask strength as is the norm in this series.
Distilled in 1992 and bottled in October 2010, 275 bottles were produced from the hogshead ex-Bourbon cask that contained it, which are unfortunately very hard to come by.
But maybe it’s not that great and you’re not missing out..
Tasting notes
Usual straw yellow (opaque) in the glass.
It presents itself on the nose with decisive composure, discreetly accompanied by vanilla, pineapple, citrus and a distinct lemon note. Simple but very fresh. Waxy undertone.
An effluvia of sweetness flows on the palate, with caramel playing the leading role, pushing all the others into the background, thanks to the fire of the alcohol content which burns with considerable impact. A little plum, a sprinkling of candied fruit, a slight herbaceous and saline impression… the freshness of the nose is almost gone, the alcohol sweeps everything away in a delirium of omnipotence and leaves little room for finesse. Perhaps with water it would open up more, but if the bottler has chosen this alcohol content, that’s the one I have to deal with and not put myself to the test.
The finish is dry, with dates and a clear saline dominance.
Too bad, a balanced nose is contrasted with a palate where, for me, the gradation is out of focus and breaks down the elegance.