Clynelish 14 Year Review
In-Depth Review
Part of Diageo’s “Classic Malts” collection, Clynelish 14 occupies an interesting position here in the US. At an MSRP of anywhere between $65 to $85, it’s a relatively pricey malt for “only” 14 years old. And while its generally available, I have rarely heard of anyone ordering it, or excited to bring a bottle home. Clynelish doesn’t release a lot of expressions, with the majority of its production going towards Jonnie Walker’s Gold Label. The bottle boasts a relatively simple design, with an unassuming label, and minimal marketing. I suspect this is why I find Clynelish 14 to fly under the radar here in the states.
But when I had the chance to purchase a 200ml version of this expression as part of the “Classic Malts” tasting collection, I jumped at the chance to see if – similar to Caol Ila 12 and Talisker 10 – this was worth the plunge into a full 750ml bottle. Located in the Highlands of Scotland, Clynelish Distillery is actually one of the larger operations in Scotland, with a maximum yearly output of over 4 million liters. The 14 year is their flagship bottling, and the one most often found around the world. There is no word on the cask types used or if chill-filtration is employed prior to bottling, but a little bit of mystery never hurt anyone.
Shoutout to K&L Wine Merchants again for having a great price on this collection that features 200ml expressions of Talisker 10, Clynelish 14, and Caol Ila 12. Absolutely worth the price if you have a chance to grab one of these sets!
Age: 14 years
ABV: 46%
Cask: Not stated
MSRP: Around $75
Distillery Name: Clynelish
Review Date: 3/6/21
Color: Shiny Gold
Nose: Sweet aromas of honey, vanilla, and baked pastry immediately hit the nose. There comes citrus, reminiscent of a freshly set key lime pie. Sugared grapefruit, lemon bars, and a touch of herbal, vegetal peat comes to life. The peat is very faint, almost undetectable, unless you begin to look for it. The nose is soft and sweet; a slightly unexpected nose from what is considered a peated expression.
Palate: This is strange. Odd. Peculiar. And completely unexpected. The overwhelming tasting note on my first sip was… Watermelon jolly ranchers? There’s a mouth-watering candied fruit thing going on here that can only be likened to those infamous hard candies of my youth. There was cherry, lemon-lime soda, pear, and artificial melon flavors all melding together. As I continue to sip, the candied flavors settle down and evolve into deeper, richer flavors of light peat, honeydew, and floral notes. The mouthfeel leans more to the creamy, waxier side of the spectrum, providing good body on the palate without feeling soft. There is only the slightest bite and remains overall quite restrained even at 46% ABV.
Finish: Medium finish that highlights more vegetal notes than the palate. The finish retains some fruitiness like green apple, but features much more herbal notes, sea salt, and more faint peat. A relatively straightforward finish, with good length.
Final Thoughts: This was an unexpectedly great whisky. I went in thinking this may be the most forgettable bottle in the ‘Classic Malts” collection only to be pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. While it isn’t the most complex whisky on the shelf, it succeeds at giving a great, creamy, fruity, sweet sipping experience that on more than one occasion felt more reminiscent to Japanese whisky than many other Scotch whiskies. While Talisker 10 may be more intriguing, Clynelish 14 is more in line with my traditional whisky preferences and may have just earned a permanent spot on my shelf.
