Scotch Whisky Review #189: Single Cask Nation Clynelish 23 Year 2nd Fill Oloroso (1995)
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: Jewish Whisky Company
Region: Highland
Price: $21 for 2 oz.
Cask Type: 2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt
Cask Number: 8660
ABV: 52.4%
Age: 23 Year. Distilled September 1995, Bottled March 2019
Color: 1.6, Mahogany/Henna Notes. Non-Chill Filtered and Natural Color.
Nose: (according to the wife) Lots of fruits. Pomegranate is the first one out of the gates, its followed by raisins and then some persimmon. There’s a bit of honey well along with aged oak and some really dark chocolate.
Palate: It’s warm and creamy. The dark chocolate note from the nose is the first one you notice, it’s not like biting into a chocolate bar but rather more like inhaling chocolate powder. The chocolate is followed by a slightly tart note of cherry pie filling, it’s as if the filling was made with very dark cherries. Raisins with a hint of salt wrap this up along with a bit of burnt sugar. With water, the famed Clynelish waxiness comes out. The chocolate notes intensify and turn into a super rich chocolate caramel. The raisins come more to the forefront as well though the salty notes do get drowned out.
Finish: Long in length. That dark chocolate dust lasts forever along with the raisins and dark sweet cherries.
Conclusion: Old Clynelish aged in sherry casks. That just sounds delicious and this whisky did not disappoint. It’s packed full of delicious chocolate and fruity notes that just complement each other so very well. The bit of cherry pie filling in the palate along with the little bit of salted raisins are perfectly balanced and make you want to go back for more. The super rich chocolate caramel that comes out after water gets added is delicious but it does drown out some of the more delicate notes. Still, phenomenal whisky overall. Would I buy a bottle? I’m adding it to the “if I win the lottery” wish list.
Final Score: 90.
Scotch Whisky Review #189, Highland Review #39, Whisky Network Review #262
Scoring Legend:
- 96-100: The perfect dram, nectar of the gods.
- 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky.
- 85-89: Amazing, will always try to keep a bottle of this in my collection (if feasible).
- 80-84: Very Good, maybe only one minor nitpick about the whisky keeping it here.
- 75-79: Good, quite enjoyable to drink.
- 70-74: Solid, wouldn’t go out of my way to get it.
- 60-69: Meh, still drinkable.
- Below 59: If you have a bottle of this, start cooking with it instead.
Scotch & Sheen 
