Review by: The Muskox

After a semi-voluntary break from whisky (it’s hard to write reviews when you’re hiking across the desert for three weeks), I’ve finally returned and have some pretty ridiculous drams to tell you all about. Let’s start here. There are some very old SMWS Clynelishes out there with serious reputations as modern classics. This one is a later vintage than many of those, but maybe it’ll still be a knockout!

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Distillery: Clynelish.

Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Region: Highlands.

ABV: 45.9%. Cask strength.

Age: 30 years. Distilled April 2nd 1992. Bottled in 2022.

Cask type: Second-fill bourbon barrel.

Price: N/A, sample.

Color: 0.6, Old Gold. Natural Color. Non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: Lush. Fresh flowers, fragrant perfumes, clean linens, plenty of paraffin wax. Apples and pears, golden raisins, honey dates, and lime zest. Soft raisin challah and candied nuts. Grass, and a little coriander maybe? Mineral salts and limestone. A hint of cool smoke, way in the back. Some unexplainable mustiness.

Palate: Medium texture. Arrives with intense sweetness and flowers – old perfume cabinets, crystallized honey, and stonefruit. A good dose of old wood emerges as the whisky develops, then loads of sweet oily flavours – melted paraffin candles, coconut, shea butter, white chocolate. White tea, marshmallow, lemon squares, and slivered almonds.

Finish: Medium-long, cool and clean. More dates, honey, and some tart yellow plums. Black pepper, weathered wood, and lingering light smoke. Hops and coriander.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Bathtub soak on an island vacation ”

Conclusion: This is indeed a stellar whisky. It has that amazing ‘cleanness’ that I get from my favourite Clynelishes, not to mention all the classic paraffin that you could want. It’s robust and has a great sense of age. The palate and finish are both very nice, but it’s the nose that especially stands out with its phenomenal complexity and balance. It’s so cruel to have such a small sample of this. Cruel and unusual, I say!

Final Score: 89.

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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.