An infrequent appearance for this fan-favourite Highlander. This young example was matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel. Young & Spritely profile.
Nose: The waxiness is apparent immediately – beeswax and tall church tapers. Swiftly following are juicy gummy bears and wine gums – a real hotpot of sticky confectionary. In the background honeycomb, cinnamon buns and soft wood lacquer. The addition of water adds an interesting floral sweetness – orange blossoms - chilli chocolate and earthy minerals.
Taste: A typical mouthfeel for this distillery – weighty, coating and, of course – waxy. Tropical fruits kick things off – both sweet and sour pineapples and mangos. The mid-palate provides a texture shift, away from waxiness towards chalkiness – at this point, there’s more stone fruits and white berries – peaches and grapes. The back-palate is packed full of steeliness – wet rocks, limestone walls and aluminium cans. Water drenches all the fruit elements in lime juice – tart and biting. It also heightens the sense of chalkiness and minerality – salt crystals and calcium.
Finish: Medium to long, with drying tannins, granite and salinity.
This Clynelish is an unusual mix of waxiness, fruitiness and minerality. It’s certainly cleverly named. There’s weight and texture throughout making for a particularly interesting experience in terms of mouthfeel. Strangely compelling and well-worth exploring.