Clynelish 14 Years
For a long time, Clynelish produced almost exclusively for blends, among others for Johnnie Walker. As part of the Classic Malts Selection, it becomes even more interesting when viewed in the context of the full lineup. Meanwhile, a 14 and a 16 years bottling are offered. We take a look at what the younger of the two has to offer.The distillery run under the name Clynelish is actually still comparatively young. Clynelish was founded by the Duke of Sutherland in 1819 and was to be replaced by a new building in 1967. For a short time, Clynelish A (1819) and Clynelish B (1967) existed in parallel, with Clynelish A being renamed Brora after a short break in operations and the newer Clynelish B now being called Clynelish.
The panel
Mean 79.0 · spread 2
Value for money 4/5
- Distillery
- Clynelish
- Type
- Single Malt
- Region
- Highlands
- Country
- Scotland
- Age
- 14 years
- Strength
- 46% ABV
- Character
- floral
Tasting
Nose
"I smell spring and there's a horse stable in there" was Marcel's first statement. And indeed. We perceive strong hay-like and flowery smells. Definitely a floral environment. There is also a bit of sugar.
Palate
It tastes quite different from what it smells like. The path perceived in the nose through the flower meadow led directly to the beach. Oily-soft but still light, we taste sea salt, think of shells by the sea. Light citrus fruits can be found in the sand dune. Impressive and unexpected.
Finish
The finish is unfortunately only a short sea breeze. A little sweetish, but still dominantly salty.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Clynelish 14 surprises with an unusual combination of floral freshness and salty sea air – a whisky that promises more adventure than you might expect at first glance. While I miss the classic scent of oak wood, that’s exactly what makes it exciting and lively. A true drinking pleasure for anyone eager to discover something new.
Sascha
The Clynelish 14 presents an interesting balance between floral notes and a surprisingly salty, maritime element that gives the palate complexity and structure. However, the finish feels a bit short and could benefit from more persistence, which slightly detracts from the otherwise precise harmony. Overall, a very solid Highland whisky with a distinctive profile and fine aromatic character.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Clynelish as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £380 across 166 lots · 2024-08