Clynelish 24 TBWC Review

Hi everyone,

There ain’t much old Clynelish out there. What is out there is normally crazy expensive but get good reviews.

This one is an old Clynelish. This one was crazy expensive (50cl bottles remember). And was very graciously given by Dave at That Boutique-y again (many thanks).

 

Clynelish 24 TBWC 49.7%

Colour: Straw

Body: Medium

Nose: Light and delicate, lemon, heady perfume, sea salt, vanilla, beeswax and coffee, very light wood smoke and some oily wax.

Taste: Very dry, oak then light with perfume and beeswax, pine, outdoorsy woodland walk (Is it just me, or are my notes getting more subjective and pretentious?) then lots of salt and oily wax comes in.

Finish: Long. Very oily, lots of white pepper, lots of very dry oak and chalk.

Is it nice Clynelish? Yes. But felt like the oak has gotten the better of it just a little. It’s restrained and nose is a little light for me. Also, I’m not a fan of the label on this one.

77/100

Distillery: Clynelish

Average Score: 79.5

Distillery Ranking: 10th/65 places

Up/Down: 10>12 (Down 2)

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #651

Whisky Network Review #776

Network Average: 75.0

Best Score: 94

Worst Score: 12

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and I am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and I am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Orkney Single Malt 2002 Sherry BBR Review

Hi everyone,

There has been a bit of a lack of activity on my part recently, partly due to moving house, work and I’ve started writing a book (which is something I’ve always wanted to do but, as you can imagine, time consuming).

Has anyone else noticed that a lot of Highland Park IB’s have started coming out? Either under ‘mystery Orkney’ or under the official name. Lots of good deals too, fair prices compared to the expensive OB single casks.

This one was bottled by Berry Bros with a labelling mistake! Which is always funny to see. The label says that it is 14yo but in fact it is 16yo.

 

Orkney Single Cask Berry Bros 56.8%

Colour: Amber

Body: Full

Nose: Lovely meaty Sherry, honey, malt and golden raisin, very Macallan-like if it weren't for the heathery smoke in the background. An Unami note like salami or gammon, slightly Ledaig-like salted cheese. Herbal notes too. Quite complex. Fantastic nose.

Water: Equally great but softer, more chocolatey.

Taste: Soft sweetness then intense, great Sherry cask, raisin, honey, golden raisin, heather then very earthy, some green apple, working in the garden, lots of chocolate.

Water: Dry, honey, more floral, more spice and oak here. Ginger and some pepper.

Finish: Long length. Lots more oak, dry, lots of chocolate, heather.

A little too oaky to taste but a brilliant nose. Better neat. Almost Ledaiggian in style with the funky Sherry and light smoke. Which in my book makes it great! Oh and almost forgot, the price was really good too. Sadly all sold out now I think.

80/100

Distillery: Highland Park

Average Score: 80.3

Distillery Ranking: 8th/ 65 places

Up/Down: No movement

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #650

Whisky Network Review #775

Network Average: 75.0

Best Score: 94

Worst Score: 12

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and I am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and I am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Tomatin 21 TBWC Review

Hi everyone,

Thanks to Dave from TBWC for this dram, always the gent.

So back in April still (Yes, I’m behind) I was at Bristol Whisky Lounge, and just about managed to try a few whiskies despite the crowded space. I didn’t actually want to try this one, I wanted to try the 25yo mystery Islay, not this pale Tomatin but as always Dave made a good suggestion.

Tomatin 21 TBWC 47.4%

Colour: Straw

Body: Medium

Nose: Lovely musky slightly tropical fresh fruit, mint sprig, tomato stem amazingly (or maybe that’s the label talking!), plenty of dry oak, lemon peel. Leather and chocolate powder over time.

Taste: Dry, soft oak first then more musky and perfumed, amazing old leather and chocolate, quite dark, older than its years. Even better, there’s a great balance of flavours here too.

Finish: Long. Mouthwatering, leather and dark chocolate, some ginger snap.

Much darker and older tasting than the colour would let on. This is an absolutely wonderful example of Tomatin, if a tad expensive for most of us…

84/100

Distillery: Tomatin

Average Score: 77.5

Distillery Ranking 22nd/ 65 places

Up/Down: 25>22 (Up 3)

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #649

Whisky Network Review #774

Network Average: 75.0

Best Score: 94

Worst Score: 12

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and I am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and I am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Ledaig 13 Amontillado Review

Hi everyone,

This is a whisky I’ve been desperately trying to get my paws on for a while for obvious reasons. Unfortunately it didn’t cross my path until it has almost disappeared. This was the last whisky I had at Limburg thanks to a very heavy night the night before…

Official Ledaig. Cask strength. Interesting cask. Good price. What’s not to like friends?

 

Ledaig 13 Amontillado 59.2%

Colour: Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Interesting and funky, honey, sexy cigarette smoke, smoked cheese, something meaty like glazed ham or pastrami, lightly sulphury. And a very odd but not in any way unpleasant note of pumpkin soup.

Water: More cigarette, opens up, exotic spices, saffron.

Taste: Powerful and full, mineral smoke, smashed rocks, honey glazed ham, oily mouthfeel, some oak and black pepper.

Water: Much softer and more balanced arrival, more spices, much more salt, saffron.

Finish: Long length. Powerful smoke, more smashed rocks, very mineral. Great finish.

A good one from the officials but glad I didn't buy a bottle as I was very tempted to do. The funk is here in full force and we wouldn’t want it any other way! Although the pumpkin soup on the nose is interesting and cool, it doesn’t quite jive with the other notes there though. The palate is delicious but I do wish there was a touch more complexity. In any case, still great stuff.

81/100

Distillery: Tobermory

Average Score: 80.3

Distillery Ranking: 8th/ 65 places

Up/Down: 9>8 (Up 1)

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #648

Whisky Network Review #773

Network Average: 75.0

Best Score: 94

Worst Score: 12

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and I am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and I am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?