Review by: The Muskox

Last night marked the first in-person year-end general meeting of the Toronto Whisky Society in three years! The occasion was marked by good times, good friends, and a smorgasbord of whisky. I managed to get decent notes on three drams, which is three whiskies more than I was expecting. They’re maybe not my most detailed notes, but they’re good enough for a published review.

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Distillery: Clynelish.

Bottler: Douglas Laing.

Region: Highlands.

ABV: 50%, cask strength.

Age: 10 years old. Distilled in 06/1989. Bottled in 08/1999.

Color: No colour added, un-chillfiltered.

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Nose: Bright and sunny. Melon, lemon zest, and mixed tropical fruits abound. Mild wax and a nutty sunflower-seed sort of note. A dusting of nutmeg.

Palate: Full texture. Arrives waxy and tropical-fruity, along with clover honey and sweet malt. Sort of an earthy dankness comes in as it develops, along with charred oak and a bit of citrus pith.

Finish: Fairly sweet. Grapefruit, lime, and melon. Paraffin and slightly-burnt toast.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Inexplicable sunny beach holiday in Brora”

Notes: This was great! Beautifully bright, juicy, and lush, with a decent amount of wax (though not loads by Clynelish standards). It might sound a little simple, but I’ve found that this style of whisky, when well-executed, really does it for me.

Final Score: 87.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.