You probably already know that I like Clynelish a lot. Whenever I can find one for a good price, I want to try it out. This Clynelish 1996, a 20 year old from Signatory Vintage is such a bottle. I bought it in Edinburgh a couple of months ago. This was for sale at a good price, like most of The Un-Chillfiltered Collection of Signatory. So for me a good reason to just buy a bottle without reading any reviews in advance, and see if it can surprise me. So let’s see if it was really a good purchase.

This Clynelish has matured in a refill sherry butt and is bottled at 46% ABV. Cask no. 11376.

Clynelish 1996 tasting notes:

Nose: Ahhh this is typical Clynelish, starting with beeswax. Lovely! Than followed by sweet tangerines and oranges. A little bit of saltiness and some dried fruit, probably by the ex-sherry cask. All very nice, as the dried fruit really works here, it’s quite an integrated nose. Do I smell mushrooms or some earthiness in there?

Taste: A nice thick mouthfeel, it’s not particularly waxy, but just a good body. It’s a bit salty, followed by honey sweetness, and more of the tangerines. There is some nice lemon in there as well, which gives it just a little freshness. Than it becomes somewhat peppery. A touch of oak and a little bit of red fruits too.

Finish: A nice mid-long finish. Salt and red fruits, and quite some lemon. And a hint of caramel and pepper.

I have tried this whisky a couple of times now and it really depends on my mood if I just like it or I really like it. It’s a good whisky, it’s a shame that I bought only 1 bottle instead of 2, because this bottle certainly does not make it until the end of summer. 😉