Elixir Distillers presented a dozen of new Single Malts of Scotland bottlings recently. One of them is this Clynelish 2010, probably the youngest expression I’ve tried from this distillery so far (not counting a few NAS releases).
Clynelish 9 yo 2010
(55,7%, Single Malts of Scotland 2019, ex-bourbon barrel #700039, 176 btl.)
Clynelish 9 yo 2010Nose: lovely marshmallow and guimauve notes alongside the typical paraffin! Also candy apples, banana milkshake and pineapple cubes. Scented candles. A pleasant freshness (grassy touches, lemon and star anise) which balances the candied notes. Hints of orange blossom locum too. Pretty great so far.
Mouth: sweet and fruity again, hints of melons, lime and peaches. Hints of eau-de-vie. The oak is bigger now (pepper, grassy oak) with salty notes and light resin. Simpler but so easy to like.
Finish: long, more on grapefruit, vanilla and lemon zest.
Very good young Clynelish. Not very complex and a bit different from older expressions, but the fruity notes and marshmallow (and the price) make it a no-brainer really. It seems to be sold out at The Whisky Exchange, maybe from partners?
Score: 89/100