DESCRIPTION

The Rare Malts are a now-discontinued series of cask-strength releases designed by Diageo to showcase some of the hidden treasures in their portfolio. This is a classic Clynelish originally released in 1997, so stocks are now understandably very low.

TASTING NOTES (by Whiskyfun.com)

Colour: straw. Nose: this baby is more brutal, more spirity, rougher and also a little more coastal (brine). It hasn’t got the other ones’ roundness and expressiveness but it’s true that it’s also ten years younger. Kirsch, tincture of iodine, lemon juice, then more classical notes of wax and pollen plus wet rocks. We’re already a bit in the style of the 1980s. With water: oh, this is bizarre, this one does not swim quite as well as its eldest bros but it’s still a champion. More grass, more wax, more orange zests. Mouth (neat): once again, it’s a tad aggressive a very first sipping but the profile is so perfect – provided you like this kind of course – that it instantly wins. Once again, we’re closer to the early 1980s in style, with the waxiness more to the front and less straight fruitiness. A lot of lemon though, and quite some grass and liquorice wood as well. Big malt whisky! With water: superb! Everything’s into position, perfect. It takes water much better than on the nose. Finish: long, classic, Clynelish. Comments: great dram, maybe a wee bit too young when it was bottled in my opinion. Yup, nit-picking. SGP:452 - 89 points.

PRODUCT SUMMARY