Another cask strength Connoisseurs Choice bottling from Gordon & MacPhail: Clynelish 1989. It’s a vintage that we’ve tried several times before from independent bottlers, but it’s nice to see G&M has more of this lying around.
Clynelish 28 yo 1989 (49,3%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, refill American hogshead, 221 btl.)
Clynelish 28 yo 1989 (49,3%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 2018, refill American hogshead, 221 btl.)Nose: always great to have this round combination of waxiness, ripe gooseberries and mild, warm oak. Later also juicy pears, green mango, candied ginger. Hints of leather and wet rocks. There was a dusty note at first but this disappeared. Good.
Mouth: oily, with honey and pears, as well as some pink grapefruit and maybe one passion fruit. On the other hand there’s a firm grassy / oaky side with ginger that reminds us of the 1990s expressions.
Finish: long, zesty, grassy, with a hint of briney oak.
A really nice Clynelish, no doubt, but in my memory the 1989 bottlings that I had some seven years ago were even nicer. I believe this one will be available in Asia and the Americas (excl. USA) only.
Score: 88/100