Review by: Raygun

This one had me completely fooled, I have to admit. Would never have guessed this was a teenage Clynelish. Blinds can be so humbling. Sample and pic courtesy of Whiskery Turnip. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distillery: Clynelish  

Bottler: Signatory Vintage    

Region/style: Highland single malt Scotch

ABV: 43% 

Age: 17 years. Distilled on May 27, 1998 and bottled on July 27, 2015.  

Cask type: Hogshead #7774, 171 bottles.

Color: 0.2 pale straw. Natural color and chill-filtered.

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Nose: Very clean malt. Nutty cereal, vanilla, hay. Lemon, but more lemon candy than actual lemon.   

Palate: Hmm. Was expecting a simple malty Scotch from the nose, but there’s something else here, a wasabi-like sharpness. Then the more expected caramel, vanilla, and cereal. Some rather green peach and papaya. Tastes kind of young. Wondering if it’s a blend; there’s a grainy sort of element to it.    

Finish: Malt, hay, underripe fruit. Lemon bars and touches of artificial sweetener. No heat to it. Vanilla pudding.   

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Guess: Tastes kind of young and a little underdeveloped. Underripe fruit describes it well, I think. Can’t be more than 43%. Thought it might be a blend, but I’ve reconsidered. Let’s call it around 12 years, 43%, ex-bourbon single malt Scotch.   

Post-reveal thoughts: Got me pretty good with this one. Never would have guessed Clynelish, and thought it was much younger than 17 years. I suppose it shows Clynelish isn’t always great, at least I didn’t think this was.   

Conclusion: A promising nose that the palate and finish can’t entirely live up to. Nice vanilla and cereal, then took a slightly stranger turn on the palate with green fruit and a little wasabi. More underripe fruit on the finish. Not young by any means, but it still felt like it needed more time.  

Buy a bottle? Nope 

Score: 73

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)