Description: Distilled in October 1996 at Clynelish distillery, near Brora, this is one of just 304 bottles charged from a single refill hogshead. This Highland Single Malt, part of Hunter Laing & Co's Platinum Old & Rare Selection, was bottled in October 2014 at a strength of 54.9% ABV and is presented non chill-filtered.
General Comments: This whisky is initially soft, light, fresh and fun. These are qualities that would be excellent in an aged whisky; except that this is only 18 yrs Old and one wonders how it got into an 'Old & Rare' range. The slight alcohol burn that makes several appearances, reveals the age of the spirit and as such you'd never suggest that this was an old whisky. It reminds me of the fantastic Linkwood 12 yr Old from the now defunct Diageo Flora & Fauna range. That whisky however was (despite being excellent) £40. This is a better, richer whisky than that; but hey; its also £200 more.
With water and time the whisky becomes richer and heavier; reminiscent of The Balvenie style in terms of texture. This whisky is alive with nuance and pleasant subtle molasses and fruity flavours but ultimately; despite its fancy bottle and wooden box this remains an excellent 18 yr Old whisky. I'm not going to recommend someway pays £240 for that.
General Comments: This whisky is initially soft, light, fresh and fun. These are qualities that would be excellent in an aged whisky; except that this is only 18 yrs Old and one wonders how it got into an 'Old & Rare' range. The slight alcohol burn that makes several appearances, reveals the age of the spirit and as such you'd never suggest that this was an old whisky. It reminds me of the fantastic Linkwood 12 yr Old from the now defunct Diageo Flora & Fauna range. That whisky however was (despite being excellent) £40. This is a better, richer whisky than that; but hey; its also £200 more.
With water and time the whisky becomes richer and heavier; reminiscent of The Balvenie style in terms of texture. This whisky is alive with nuance and pleasant subtle molasses and fruity flavours but ultimately; despite its fancy bottle and wooden box this remains an excellent 18 yr Old whisky. I'm not going to recommend someway pays £240 for that.
Without Water
Nose: Straight out of the bottle you get a soft, fruity-sweet bouquet of orchard fruits; I'm thinking Williams pear's and Galia melon. Bringing to the nose, you get a vanilla syrup note; still soft and fruity, but more sugary now. If you nose too close, the alcohol comes through strongly and tingles the nostrils . You have to work at this one a bit though to fully discoverwhat is going on. It is definitely a pleasant nose; reminiscent of the Linkwood 12 yr Old Flora & Fauna bottling. Finally a treacly oak note begins to come out of the glass as the dominant scent.
Palate: Sweet, but heavy on the alcohol; betraying the youthfulness of this bottling. The oak is front and centre on the palate and runs a wide road down the middle of the tongue from the back, all the way to the tip. The oak is not one-noted however and the sweetness that you'd expect from the nose accompanies it. Again the taste is slightly treacly; not black treacle, but a thick brown, rich sticky vanilla syrup; plenty of molasses here. You have to go searching for the fruits; they are present immediately (again orchard fruits) but get swept away by the rich sweetness and oak.
Finish: The orchard fruits and Galia melon return, sitting on the top of the mouth at the back of the palate, where the sugar and oak can't get too it. It seems like a bird perched high on a branch, safe from the cats stalking below. The sweet , vanilla syrup soaked oak booms pleasantly in the mouth and resonates, pulsating. The alcohol is barely an issue now. This is certainly a pleasant drop.
With Water
Nose: The nose has changed and become richer; barley sugars comes straight to mind. Nosing too close still brings an alcohol tingle to the nostrils, but I'm still searching for specific notes to express. The is a floral element in there behind the richness; almost hidden, but cutting the sweetness a fraction to add an extra dimension. I'm not good with floral notes but it seems heathery too me; Parma Violets thats what it is (think purple 'Refreshers'; the chalky sweets in the tube not the chewy bars or penny sweet version).
Palate: Immediately I get a mellow, honeyed, rich flavour filling the mouth. Then however the bite of the alcohol kicks in. The second sip brings a return of that richness, but it stays for much longer this time as the alcohol is nowhere near as fierce; only used 5 drops, and 54.9% ABV remember. I'm able now to explore the fruity flavour that has combined with the sweet molasses sweetness to coat the mouth; It's Papaya. Papya is not quite Cantaloupe melon; nopt quite Mango, but is a rich, sweet, dense beautiful orange coloured fruit that has kindly imparted its flavour into this whisky.
Finish: Old leather is the first note that springs to mind. Those Parma Violets are back too. The dissipating alcohol and the confectionery sweetness give off a sort of sherbety fizz on the tongue; so I'm back to reminiscing about Refreshers. The second and third waves come with rich dark chocolate and caramel chocolate (Caramac bars). There is no bitterness here but a faint oaky flavour on the lips and tip of the tongue.
With Water
Nose: The nose has changed and become richer; barley sugars comes straight to mind. Nosing too close still brings an alcohol tingle to the nostrils, but I'm still searching for specific notes to express. The is a floral element in there behind the richness; almost hidden, but cutting the sweetness a fraction to add an extra dimension. I'm not good with floral notes but it seems heathery too me; Parma Violets thats what it is (think purple 'Refreshers'; the chalky sweets in the tube not the chewy bars or penny sweet version).
Palate: Immediately I get a mellow, honeyed, rich flavour filling the mouth. Then however the bite of the alcohol kicks in. The second sip brings a return of that richness, but it stays for much longer this time as the alcohol is nowhere near as fierce; only used 5 drops, and 54.9% ABV remember. I'm able now to explore the fruity flavour that has combined with the sweet molasses sweetness to coat the mouth; It's Papaya. Papya is not quite Cantaloupe melon; nopt quite Mango, but is a rich, sweet, dense beautiful orange coloured fruit that has kindly imparted its flavour into this whisky.
Finish: Old leather is the first note that springs to mind. Those Parma Violets are back too. The dissipating alcohol and the confectionery sweetness give off a sort of sherbety fizz on the tongue; so I'm back to reminiscing about Refreshers. The second and third waves come with rich dark chocolate and caramel chocolate (Caramac bars). There is no bitterness here but a faint oaky flavour on the lips and tip of the tongue.
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