Clynelish Distillery 1995 25 Year Old Whisky Sponge Edition No.40 Refill Sherry Butt Single Malt Scotch Whisky ABV 56.6% Vol 700ml / 70cl (Pre-Order 7 Days)

Auctions, flipping, lanyards, sandals, opinions, 'hats', jute bags, arguments, 'amusing' t-shirts, blogs, laptops, 'interesting' personal hygiene... have we reached the final, evolutionary dead end in 'The Descent Of Sponge'? 

It all ends in darkness... a remarkably active and old school refill sherry cask. This is Clynelish, but not as we know it. 

Once again distilled in 1995 and matured for 25 years; once again bottled at natural cask strength of 56.6%. This is a gloriously dark, sticky and unctuously syrupy dram. Riddled with liquorice, balsamic, rancio, tobacco, earth and walnuts. Welcome to the dark and sticky world of true whisky geekery - a lost evolutionary cause with only glimmers of waxy purity in the inky darkness. 

But what a delicious and decadent place to be! Who'd really have it any other way...?

Nose: wowsie, that’s pretty dirty. Meaty notes, Maggi, miso soup, cooked veggies. I sometimes get this in very old bottles of Oloroso sherry as well, let’s give it some air. After fifteen minutes, it got more herbal but it didn’t lose the umami side. Walnuts, mushrooms and mulching leaves.

Mouth: a lot of umami elements again, like tobacco, leather, parsley and hints of roasted chestnuts. There’s still a minty side to lift it, with herbal tea and a hint of salted liquorice. Some caramel and chocolate in the end.

Finish: long, with herbs, a salty note and lingering chocolate coated nuts.

PRODUCT SUMMARY