Clynelish 1984 Silver Seal Review

Hi everyone,

I’ve always wanted to try some older Clynelish because its normally raved about in whisky circles and rumours suggest that the further you go back, the closer to Brora you get.

Part of the unique character of Clynelish is the waxiness you get from it, that doesn’t quite come across the same in any other whisky. I had thought that this was due to the spirit safe never being cleaned, but a little research seems to suggest it is actually the feints tank that does not have oils removed from it that other distilleries normally would during their silent season.

What does that actually do? I have no idea really. But perhaps by taking quite a wide cut, more into the feints, they can capture some of those oils that then come through as that waxiness when matured?

 

Clynelish 1984 Silver Seal 57.3%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Light, ethereal, honeyed and complex, nettle, fresh mint, wax, a journal of pressed flowers complete with homemade paper, candle wax. Lovely nose, really fresh and summer-y.

Taste: Soft, amazing balanced arrival, then spices and juicy fruit along with complex honey and florals, white pepper, vanilla pod and lily. Beeswax and oils, candle wax, softer into the finish.

Finish: Long length. Drier but oily with some wax, old school oak.

Over 18 years old, bottled in 2003. A lot of Scotch mist with water! But it does unbalance the whisky though. Quite dry mid-palate but lovely old Clynelish. Better, in fact, than the 38yo Brora from 2016 IMO.

87/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #561

Whisky Network Review #664

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