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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