Clynelish 2005 (G&M for TWE)

This is another one of the three new 20th Anniversary bottlings just released by The Whisky Exchange for their 20th Anniversary.

A Clynelish 2005 matured for over 14 years in a refill sherry cask and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in the Connoisseurs Choice range.

Clynelish 14 yo 2005 (51,8%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ for TWE 20th Anniversary 2019, refill sherry hogshead, 224 btl.)

Nose: dried bananas and pears at first, moving to nutty notes, hints of sour orange oil and mirabelles. Old resinous oak, camphor and wet tobacco leaves. Cinnamon and nutmeg. Pollen and herbal honey. Hessian. Quite dry, not a straightforward profile but really intruiging.

Mouth: darker tobacco, earth and autumn leaves, Jaffa cakes, cinnamon and crushed peppercorns. Light smoky touches, a touch of sweet mustard and herbs, then back to oranges. Hints of charred oak and metal too.

Finish: long, with some roasted nuts, pepper, lemon peel and apple pith.

An uncommon, slightly demanding Clynelish with a firm autumnal side, spices and a certain sourness. I’m generally not a fan of Clynelish from sherry casks but this has heaps of character. Only available from The Whisky Exchange.

Score: 87/100