Clynelish 5 yo di Chiano 43% ~ mid 70s vs Highland New Spirit, distilled June 2008 at Clynelish Rochdale 62.8% ~ bottled 2010
Clynelish 5 yo di Chiano 43% ~ mid 70s
A winning profile. Fatty ambrette seed which is a thick waxy scent with animalic touches, thin clear minerals, turpenic waxes and, typical old school, greased tools for a workshop vibe. Also preserved pomelo rind, and aspects of warm honey which can be a little musky. Notably less phenolic and farmy than some of the earlier 12s. Indeed it feels like a representation of Brora’s very essence, pared down to its bones. But what a legacy those bones have left us. 90 pts
Highland New Spirit, distilled June 2008 at Clynelish Rochdale 62.8% ~ bottled 2010, for Japan
So Clynelish almost-new-make. I used to think a feinty new make was needed for a great aged whisky, and a clean sweet new make was suitable for a great young whisky, and yet this one is ready at 2 years, without sherry, without any feints, off notes or sulphur. Clynelish, great at 2 or 40. So, already hitting all the benchmarks: wax, honey, yellow hay. Juniper and herbaceous leafy fresh green notes are prevalent. Much less phenolic, and less thick than the Di Chiano obviously. On the tongue, plenty of barley sugar, toffee, sweet oak so perhaps an active first fill bourbon, still colour me amazed. 86 pts
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