Clynelish 1989 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength (49.3%, Gordon & MacPhail, Refill HH #8204, 221 Bottles, 2018)

• Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky
• Origin: Clynelish distillery
• Bottling: Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice 2018, Cask Strength
• ABV: 49.3%
• Cost: £?

What they say

• DISTILLERY Clynelish
• REGION Highland
• DISTILLED Wednesday, 15 November 1989
• BOTTLED Tuesday, June 26, 2018
• ABV 49.3%
• YEARS OLD 28
• CASK NO. 8204
• CASK TYPE Refill American hogshead
• OUTTURN 221 bottles
• BATCH 18/035

Official tasting notes:

• Aroma Complex; aromas of green mango, toasted coconut, and pineapple intertwine with brown sugar caramelised upon flambeed banana. Gentle notes of oak and ginger nestle in the background.
• Taste Creamy and oily; rich flavours of honey and brown sugar-coated pears poached in ginger syrup. A refreshing lift of lemon, lime, and passion fruit develops.
• Finish Medium, the sweet notes evolve into a slightly oak edge.

What I say

Celebrating 50 years of Connoisseurs Choice with Gordon & MacPhail.

An Independent bottling of Clynelish bottled as part of Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength range.

Distilled in 1989 at Clynelish distillery and matured in a refill American Hogshead (? ex-Bourbon) for 28 Years before bottling at cask strength of 49.3% ABV, producing 221 bottles at outturn.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Antique gold (7/20), medium tears, medium-fine legs.
• Nose: Waxy, toffee, molasses, floral, coconut, tropical fruits; pineapple, banana, mango, caramelised sugars, pine sap, cone and needles.
• Taste: Creamy toffee, molasses, caramel, almost treacle toffee, fruity pineapple, pears both poached in wine and buttery, a little hint of lime juice & soured cream mix with ginger spice.
• Finish: Long, sour and acidic, woody chervil.

Overall

A rather old and slightly unusual Clynelish expression bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. It has a touch of that famous waxy nature and oodles of tropical fruit as you would expect from a whisky of this age. A lovely creamy mouthfeel and plenty of toffee on the palate too. A touch sour in the finish and slightly woody and herbal, perhaps slightly under-active this refill cask – still a very solid whisky and hard not to like even with its minor off-notes.

Score 84/100

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