Clynelish Reserve – Game of Thrones ‘House Tyrell’

I cannot remember ever having tasted a disappointing Clynelish (and this is my 72nd so far), so I was very much looking forward to this one. And at 51.2% to boot. Rumor has it there are less bottles of this around, making it very much sought after (and thus more expensive on the secondary market). Whatever. I am just happy I ordered a full set from the get-go, so I did not have to deal with that. Let’ go!

Sturdy and very mineral nose on quinine, lime and orange juice, young apples, mango, paraffin, nuts, unripe banana and rocks in the riverbed. Floral note and even some… errr… washing-up soap? Not too worry! It works! This is a wonderful nose (although honesty forces me to say I’ve nosed better).

Good body and immediately very spicy. Peppers galore. But quite quaffable without water. Quinine and a candy-like sweetness come first – somewhat surprising – before honey and raisins rear their heads. Chalk, ginger and vanilla, Seville oranges, candle wax, he has it all. But it has to be said… there is a soapy edge to it.

The finish is long on honey, beeswax, vanilla and pepper, but with an overly floral note.

Fine Clynelish, but it flirts with perfume. Must be from Olenna Tyrell, the Queen of Thorns.

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