88 / 100
The sweet fruit and vanilla have a useful counterweight in the salt and raw ginger. That gives this Clynelish more shape than sweetness alone. The nose’s waxy, lightly floral notes add another layer, while the finish brings citrus and drying oak. I like that balance of fruit and spice. It sounds rounded, but the pepper and ginger keep it from seeming purely soft or dessert-like. The 24-year age statement is notable, though the appeal here is the contrast in its character.
Reviewed by sunbeam.postcard
- Nose
- Vanilla icing, honey and pineapple, Sea-salty, slightly waxy, Raw ginger, pepper and floral notes, Oaky spice
- Palate
- Honey, pineapple and vanilla icing, Salt, lemon and raw ginger, Medium-light body; smooth and balanced
- Finish
- Sweet citrus and oaky spice, Mild black pepper and ginger, Drying and lingering