Review #54: Clynelish 17yr 1995/2013, A. D. Rattray, 45.2%, sherry hogshead, cask #4630

very pale for a sherry cask

I had some big and bad reviewing plans, but right now a Clynelish seems comforting. Sherry must have had only a long-forgotten rendezvous with that hogshead, judging from the color

nose: waxy/fruity. That Clynelish nose presents itself right away. A big whiff of cardboard comes next, but it disappers pretty fast. Some smaller flavors take time to develop: honey, peaches and apples, yoghurt, marzipan, peonies, white chocolate, green grapes, and a wisp of smoke.

palate: oily and tangy. the fruit flavors become stronger and tarter, the white chocolate becomes creamier, and there's a little sour wood.

finish: nicely persistent with the smoke returning and a little chalkiness.

Clynelish is consistently pretty good, and this is typical Clynelish. I guess one could hope for a little more intensity and complexity, but I really like this profile.

score: 87