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The final and very mysterious bottling from the Diageo Special Releases 2018, the identity of Cladach was kept under wraps longer than the other editions in the range and, to be honest, the name itself isn't particularly illuminating. Is it a new distillery bottling? Is it a typo? Is it a blended malt from six coastal distilleries including Caol Ila, Clynelish, Lagavulin, Oban, Inchgower and Talisker?
Oh, wait - it's the last one. Cladach is a continuation of the same thinking that brought us the Collectivum XXVIII (the blended malt made using the liquid from every operational Diageo distillery) last year. This year the blend features just six distilleries, but this does provide the blend with a greater clarity of style of flavour.
The limited release coastal colossus was matured in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, refill American oak hogsheads, refill European oak butts and ex-bodega European oak butts before it was bottled at a natural cask strength 57.1% ABV.
Cladah opens with rich, dark fruits, distant bonfire smoke, petrichor, and leafy pine, before seaweed, salted caramel, and orange oil come through. Lemon drizzle cake and an aromatic fresh air note lift proceedings.
Both sweeter and smokier on the palate with wood smoke, blackberry, stewed apple, and hard toffee. Liquorice Allsorts, honeycomb and a dash of mint keep it lively.
Gently drying with dark chocolate and more of that smoke, dried orange peel and a dash of vanilla.
The coast in a glass. And it really is lovely.
If you like coastal malts with a hint peat that doesn't overpower with citrus and pepper notes and along finish , then this is it. Also, because its bottled at a very high cask strength, I find it can stand more water than most and still retain its flavours. I was sceptical about buying this at first but was drawn in because I love all the individual single malts and , I thought, Krug and Dom Perignon are blends . Why should whisky not have superb blends as well ? The result is possibly one of the best whiskies I have tasted. I do think it warrants its price and I would give it a 5 star if Diageo had been a little more forthcoming about the ages and approx proportions of what's in there in the same way that classic Bordeaux wines disclose X% Cab Sauv, Y% Merlot , Z% Petit Verdot . It will be very interesting to see whether they can repeat the blend in years to come. It may be quite hard in which case get this stuff while its there.