The latest feat from our Dutch friends the WhiskyNerds is a bottling from one of their favourite distilleries, a Clynelish 1996. It’s a classic ex-bourbon cask which matured for 24 years.
Given the specs and the uncommon bottle shape for the WhiskyNerds, it is clear that this is a sister cask of the Sansibar releases from last year. Which were great.
Clynelish 24 yo 1996 (54,9%, WhiskyNerds 2020, bourbon hogshead, 282 btl.)
Nose: a greasy start, on paraffin and lamp oil with a little sunflower oil as well. This mingles with pureed bananas and pineapple, yellow apples and ripe yellow plums. Hints of sponge cake and vanilla cream. A fairly warm and rounded profile, showing nice fruits with the typical wax as a bonus.
Mouth: same fruitiness, on sweet citrus, more bananas and a lightly tropical hint of papaya but also more lively hints of green apple or kiwi. Again this paraffiny, oily mouthfeel with waxed papers and a hint of chalk. Some herbal honey towards the end, as well as light mint and a faint salty edge.
Finish: long, waxy, with more creamy fruits and a late peppery note.
Really exemplary Clynelish from the upper echelons: creamy, waxy, with lots of fruity notes. Not much more to say, really, except that you’re too late to get a bottle.