Clynelish 12 Year Old

A Single Malt as rare and elusive as its mysterious wildcat guardian. This is an unusual Clynelish, with just a slight trace of waxiness: the PX and Oloroso finishing casks have added sweetness and spiciness, developing the distillery character in an interesting way.

Nose: Creamy top notes soon give way to light yet complex fruity and herbal aromas; subtle, understated suggestions of fruity mincemeat, tinned pears, even heather honey. Deeper still, spicy scents of oak preview a soaring intensity on the palate. A drop of water increases the herbal note, while also introducing a familiar waxy hint.

Palate: A very smooth, mouth-filling texture introduces a lively taste that is rich and wine-sweet overall, the palate well-balanced by snarling peppery, oaky spice. A little water enhances the sweetness, steers the smoothness of the texture towards waxiness and rounds the flavours, which soon give way again to spicy heat.

Finish: Quite long, chili-spiced, and appetisingly drying, with lingering pepper. A little water enhances the creamy- smooth texture and adds a little more spice.