Clynelish 1992 Distillers Edition

Excepting Islay, my favourite two distilleries sit diagonally opposite each other at the far extremes of Scotland's mainland. These are Springbank in the warm gulf-stream lashed south-western Mull of Kintyre. And Clynelish in the cold, desolate and remote north-east, (OK, I might be exaggerating for poetic effect).

I've also got to admit to having a fondness for Diageo's 'Distiller's Edition' range. They all seem to have a 'warmth' about them, particularly the Dalwhinnie and Oban Distillers Editions. So let's see what they do to the traditionally dry and briney Clynelish....

Nose: Yep, it's definitely dry and briney. But with some red fruits, plums, a touch of treacle followed by cooked dark fruit. Blackberries and also a slight shortbread-type edge. Saltiness is the most apparent factor but not so that it overpowers everything else. Very nice.

Palate: Quite soft and sweet. Raspberry jam. Treacle sponge pudding. A return of black fruit. Dry, but the briney saltiness has now taken a back seat, allowing the fruitiness of the sherry cask to really show its quality. Really flavoursome.

Finish: Well it was never going to be anything else - very very dry, salty and briney. Sweet fruit tempers it, but I love dry finished malts. And this really lasts and lingers.

A wonderful whisky - I love it. But I was very surprised it was still available at a relatively cheap price. Distilled 1992, bottled in 2007 yet still available for £50. This is a cracking bargain. Grab one while you can.

Distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2008 Bought while visiting Talisker 2 years ago . I didn't like it at first... but I will give him another chance... let's taste it again. The nose is very subtle, hard for me to find out what's in there. I think of some sandalwood, probably a small chili peper or at least some spice in the second nose. The alcool kills all the taste in first mouth. But the finish is very nice. The second try is easier, the mouth is much more used to the alcool volume probably. There is a background taste of medicine all over that sadly stays. But after 2-3 trials I get some hints of vanilla and probably oak wood. It's sad that the medicine stays in mouth, I needed to drink some water to wash it out.

Finally, I don't hate it anymore, it's not my favorite, I don't like whisky medicine taste. It's sad that there is not a lot of clear tasting note, and that everything is hidden by the spiciness of the alcool.

Oh my, you think you have this one in the bag, but another lift to the nose and there's more.

Clynelish Distillers Edition was distilled in 1992 and bottled 2007. Double matured in Olorosso Seco casks.

The distillery in Brora is second only to Pulteney in being the most northerly of the mainland distilleries. The closeness of them both to the North Sea adds that maritime edge to their characters.

On the nose now: sherry, sweet raisins or is it sultanas?, coffee creams and away in the distance black cherries.

Palate: Spice, oak tannins, sherry, wild red berries, sea spray mixing wonderfully with pear drops.

I like this whisky and suggest you would like it too.

Ocean spray on the nose and palate at first glance. Sweet vanilla comes to the fore next. Soft flavours on the palate, well balanced finishing with a hoppy tannic-ness.

Nose is spicy oak and ocean iodine. Colour is a bright gold with a hint of green in it. Rich mouthfeel with significant heat from the alcohol to go with the spicy oak and vanilla flavours.