A surprising non-age-statement expression, released as part of Diageo's 2014 Special Releases. This Clynelish single malt is made from five vintages and five types of cask - this includes American first-fill, refill and rejuvenated oak as well as European refill and bodega casks. 2,964 bottles were produced.
Waxy, Jaffa Cakes, milk choc. It's Clynelish alright, and a good'un. Disco sweets, jazzes too (the white ones), but don't think this is all sugary or sickly because it isn't. A sprinkling of cinnamon, fresh orange and orchard fruit round off a beautiful nose.
Great mouthfeel, more orange, more sweeties too but again they're kept in check by the balanced citrus and wood spices. Honeysuckle and ginger, complex and delicious.
Long,warming and spicy with some satisfying grip.
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This is a wonderful Clynelish. Despite our hatred for NAS this blend of vintages has been managed well enough for this to warrant high scores. On the question of the previous reviewers score it makes no sense. A whisky should be priced depending on its quality and some of the best Clynelish you can drink is only 5 years and 12 years old. Diageo, however, as usual did overprice this whisky and it should be about 250 instead of 500 in our opinion.
Oops - forgot to mention why this dram gets only a single star despite it's delectable smell and taste. It's because no scotch under 40 years of age should charge $500/bottle. The customer has to draw a line somewhere.
I sat down at a NY Scottish pub last night when I saw a bottle of Clynelish hiding behind the usual offerings. I sat for a moment in bewilderment when it wasn't the 14 yr expression I was used to seeing. It wasn't the (hard to find) Distiller's Edition either. It was something I was not familiar with called "Select Reserve", a name typically reserved for NAS entry-level pap (I'm looking at you Glenlivet). For $12 for a 2oz pour I had a dram and was surprised at how tasty and complex it was. It wasn't until I saw it again later than night at the famous Brandy Library for $236 a shot(!), that I realized something was off! It seems the pub priced it as if it was the standard C14, not realizing that they were holding a $500 bottle of sought after scotch. My good luck!
