Founded in 1819, Clynelish has been operating nearly uninterrupted for over two hundred years, even when it was known for a time as Brora distillery. Though it produced single malts early on, almost all the distillery’s output has been a primary highland component to some of current owner Diageo’s Johnnie Walker series. Maybe because new single malts are rarely seen from this distillery, the Clynelish Reserve was seen as a standout when Diageo released a Game of Thrones set in early 2019 to celebrate the hit show’s final season. There is no age statement or anything to stand it apart like cask finishing.
Distillery: Clynelish
Region: Highlands
Age: NAS
Strength: 51.2%
Price: $74.99
Location: Brora
Nose: Roasted cinnamon apples, oak, menthol, young mint, Meyer lemon, peat, ammonia
Palate: Orange, Meyer lemon, cloves, spice, peat
Finish: Lemon, menthol
Comments: Let this one sit in your glass a while before approaching. It dispels some of the medicinal elements.
Adam – There are elements here that really intrigue. The Clynelish Reserve has some nice light citrus and mint dancing on the nose with a fruit undertone. And a whisper of peat that comes out more the longer you let it sit in the glass. The citrus really comes out on the palate, almost too much citrus in a way, as the spices kind of give the citrus elements an extra tang. A little peat peeks in on the palate if you let it sit in your glass a good while! Unfortunately, there’s this other medicinal element throughout that disrupts the experience right out of the bottle, enough to really disrupt the journey. Thankfully, some of that element lessens on the palate if you let it oxidize a great deal of time but I’m a little sad I’ve got to let a scotch sit out a day or two before it becomes anywhere near approaching enjoyable. Overall, the youth is showing and the good elements I associate with the distillery are too subtle and too easily tarnished by the off parts.
Meghan – With some water, there is an element of wet wool.
With water, it’s almost juicy fruit gum.
Ben – The finish reminds of when you’re sick and maybe you’ve had some soup, and you’re doing some healing, and how your tongue feels like when you’re eating something when you’re healing. With water, it’s almost juicy fruit gum. The water makes it so much fruitier.
Kate – The nose hit me right away as cinnamon roasted apples. There’s apples, cinnamon, a little lemon (like you sprinkle over the apples so they don’t turn). It’s hot on the nose. There’s also a hint of oak and a medicinal/menthol flavours. The finish is long and reminds me of oranges with cloves in them. The Clynelish Reserve reminds me of being in a horse barn with the smells of sweet hay, oak, horse sweat.
Henry – Baked apple, candied tangerine peel, and Meyer lemon on the nose. There’s fresh earthy peat in there, but it blends really well with the brighter fruit elements. A tannic punch right in the middle along with some heat surprises on the tongue, but the spiced citrus returns for a pleasant sweet finish. Just a little water tones down the heat.
Kristin – I like Clynelish Reserve with the water. It has strong flavors. It’s robust. The menthol really stuck out to me. I taste the mint more with water.
