I’ve said this before, never fully trust your expectations when seeing a certain distillery and vintage, like Clynelish 1998. It could always be a surprise.

Clynelish 14 yo 1998 (49,5%, Maltbarn 2012, bourbon barrel, 123 btl.)

Nose: ah, a slightly uncommon version. Maybe more hay and nutty aromas (fresh hazelnuts and almonds) than often. A little moss. After a while it folds back to more common notes of apple peelings, lime, damsons and soft linseed oil. Mouth: creamy and fruity with lovely citrus aromas and juicy apricots. Sugared grapefruit juice, vanilla, soft toffee even. Pineapple cubes! A little pepper. Hints of fruit biscuits. Also an obvious but supporting oakiness. Finish: medium long, still fruity and creamy with a faint salty twist.

This must be the first time that I’ve found apricots in a Clynelish this much. I have a feeling that I couldn’t completely grasp it, but there’s something interestingly different to this one. Around € 70.

Score: 88/100