Представям ви Clynelish 14 y.o. single malt whisky, а с него и дестилерията на Clynelish. За част от вас това име ще говори нещо, а за други ще е загадка. Но дали ще ви помогна ако в изложението намеся и Johnnie Walker Gold Label blended whisky? Това не е случайно и не е плод на неделната ми сънливост или разсеяност. Към настоящия момент дестилерията Клайнлиш е собственост на компанията Diageo, която притежава и правата над марката Johnnie Walker, в чиито уискита и най-вече в „Златния етикет“ използва преимуществено 14-годишното малцово уиски на Клайнлиш. Така че, ако сте пили Johnnie Walker Gold Label, то задължително сте се запознали и с красавеца от бутилката, капките от който формират малцовата основа в бленда. Но интересните факти за Clynelishне приключват с това.
На пръв прочит бихме могли да определим дестилерията като сравнително млада, тъй като е изградена през 1968г. Но! Всяка история в Шотландия е по-особена и настоящата не е изключение. Истината е, че първата дестилерия с името Clynelish е изградена още през 1819г. от маркиза на Стафорд в района Highlands /Хайлендс/, в градчето Brora. Дестилерията преминала през различни периоди на успех и години на спокойствие през 19-ти век, когато през 1896г. била закупена от James Ainslie & Heilbron – компания от Глазгоу, специализирана в блендирането, смесването на уиски. Началото на 20-ти век не обещавало чак толкова светло бъдеще – през 30-те години дестилерията била затворена, а военният период оказал също негативно влияние върху духа на възродения Клайнлиш. През 50-те и 60-те години ситуацията се променила и повишеното търсене на уиски гарантирало и светлото бъдеще на марката. Това принудило собствениците от DCL, които по-късно станали част от Diageo, да построят нова дестилерия точно до старата. И я кръстили Clynelish. И все пак, за да разграничат двете си „деца“ дали на старата името Clynelish A, а на новата – Clynelish B. Това им решение било смъмрено от Шотландската уиски асоциация и те се видяли принудени да затворят старата дестилерия. На света останал само един Клайнлиш и това бил новият. И отново НО! Сушата на остров Айла се отразила неблагоприятно върху производството на торфено уиски, от което се нуждаели в DCL за легендарния Johnnie Walker / явно засягайки дестилериите Caol Ila и Lagavulin/, поради което старата дестилерия била отворена с идеята да произвежда силно торфен дестилат. Този път я нарекли Brora. Тази Брора, която вече повече от 30 години след окончателното си затваряне през 1983г. все още предлага скъпи и редки бутилки, струващи стотици и хиляди паундове /макар и затворила Брора е имала запас от старо уиски и годишно Diageo го пуска на пазара в малки количества, които из търговете достигат чутовни суми/. Новата дестилерия на Клайнлиш продължила съществуването си и след закриването на Брора, а сградата `и се ползва за посетителски център и склад. Малцовият дестилат се ползвал предимно за смесените уискита на Diageo. През 2002г. се появил и 14-годишното уиски, което ревюирам в тази статия, а през 2005г. Clynelish бил включен в серията „Classic Malts“ на Diageo. И след толкова подробното встъпление е време да ви запозная и с моите бележки.
Аромат – сладникав, пикантен /напомня на парещия аромат на разрязания джинджифил/, силна медена нотка, плодов – ферментирали ябълки, череши и портокали, плодова ликьорност, ванилия, силно проявен лкарамел, стафиди, дървесност, нотка тютюн /като онази от станиолчето в кутията с цигари/, сладко от сини сливи, ацетон. Уискито е с висок алкхолен градус, 46% и добавих вода – с нея се засили сладостта и карамела, меда, появи се нотка билков чай, слаб цитрус, който ми напомни на ананас. Вкус – пиперлив, мед, слаб торф, сушени плодове, силно тръпнене по върха на езика след пои-продължително заиграване с уискито в устата, горчивина и нотка „шкаф“. С вода – изпъкват пикантността и слабия торф. Финал – среден до дълъг, сладникав, маслен, пикантен, а след сладостта се появява и горчивина, сладко от сини сливи както и сушени сини сливи. С вода – горчивина, която асоциирах с ядки от кайсии и бадеми.
Оценка: 84,5/100. Цена: около 65 лв.
Оценка: 84,5/100. Цена: около 65 лв.
В обобщение: ароматът ми хареса повече, отколкото вкуса и послевкуса.
Clynelish 14 y.o. single malt whisky
I present you Clynelish 14 y.o. single malt whisky and the Clynelish distillery. This name will sound familiar to some of you, but for others it will be a mystery. But would it be helpful if I mention and Johnnie Walker Gold Label blended whisky in the statement? This isn’t accidental and isn’t a result of my Sunday drowsiness or inattention. At present, the Clynelish distillery is owned by Diageo, which also owns the brand rights for Johnnie Walker, in whose whiskies and especially in „Gold Label“, is predominantly used Clynelish 14 y.o. single malt whisky. So, if you’ve ever drank Johnnie Walker Gold Label, then you surely have met the amber liquid in the bottle, drops of which form the malt basis of the blend. But the interesting facts about Clynelish do not end with that.
At first reading, we could determine that the distillery is relatively young, since it was built in 1968. But! Each story in Scotland is a little bit odd and this one is no exception. The truth is that the first distillery under the name Clynelish was established back in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford, in the Highlands region of Scotland, in the town of Brora. The distillery passed through different periods of success and peaceful years in the 19th century, when in 1896 it was purchased by James Ainslie & Heilbron, a Glasgow-based blending company, specialized in mixing whiskey. The beginning of the 20th century hasn’t been promising so bright future since the distillery was closed in the 30’s, and the military period also had a negative effect on the spirit of the revived Clynelish. In 50’s and 60’s, the situation changed and the increased demand for whiskey ensured a bright future for the brand. This forced the owners from DCL, which later became part of Diageo, to built a new distillery right next to the old one. And named it Clynelish. However, to make difference between their two „children“, they called the original one Clynelish A, and the new one – Clynelish B. This decision of theirs was rebuked by the Scotch Whisky Association and they found themselves forced to close the old distillery. Only one Clynelish remained in the world – the new one. And here’s a „BUT“ again! A severe drought on the island of Islay negatively affected the production of peated malt, which DCL needed for the legendary Johnnie Walker /obviously affecting the Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries/, and they decided to re-open the old distillery with the idea to produce heavily peated distillate. This time under the name Brora. This same Brora, which now, more than 30 years after its final closure in 1983 still offers expensive and rare bottles, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds /even closed, Brora has had a stock of old whisky and each year Diageo launches on the market small quantities of it, as it reaches unbelievable prices at the auctions/. The new Clynelish distillery continued its existence after the closure of Brora, and its building is now used as a visitor centre and warehouse. The malt distillates was primarily used for Diageo’s blended whiskies. The 14-year-old whisky, which I’m reviewing in this article, was first released in 2002, and in 2005 Clynelish was included in Diageo’s ‘Classic Malts Selection’. And after such a detailed introduction it’s time to introduce you to my notes.
Aroma – sweetish, spicy /reminds me the stinging smell of a sliced ginger/, strong honey notes, fruity – fermented apples, cherries and oranges, fruit liqueurness, vanilla, strongly pronounced caramel, raisins, woodiness, a touch of tobacco /as that of the tin foil in the cigarette pack/, prune jam, acetone. The whisky has a high alcohol content of 46% and I added water – it enhanced the sweetness and caramel, the honey, also appeared a hint of herbal tea, light citrus aroma, which reminded me of pineapple. Taste – peppery, honey, mild peat, dried fruits, a strong tingling on the tip of the tongue after a longer swirling of the whisky in the mouth, bitterness and a hint of ‘cabinet’. With water – the piquancy and light peat stood out. Finish – medium to long, sweetish, buttery, spicy, as after the sweetness appeared and bitterness, prune jam, as well as dried prunes. With water – bitterness, which I associated with apricot kernels and almonds. Assessment: 84,5/100. Price: around 65 lv.
In summary: The aroma I liked more than the taste and aftertaste.
At first reading, we could determine that the distillery is relatively young, since it was built in 1968. But! Each story in Scotland is a little bit odd and this one is no exception. The truth is that the first distillery under the name Clynelish was established back in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford, in the Highlands region of Scotland, in the town of Brora. The distillery passed through different periods of success and peaceful years in the 19th century, when in 1896 it was purchased by James Ainslie & Heilbron, a Glasgow-based blending company, specialized in mixing whiskey. The beginning of the 20th century hasn’t been promising so bright future since the distillery was closed in the 30’s, and the military period also had a negative effect on the spirit of the revived Clynelish. In 50’s and 60’s, the situation changed and the increased demand for whiskey ensured a bright future for the brand. This forced the owners from DCL, which later became part of Diageo, to built a new distillery right next to the old one. And named it Clynelish. However, to make difference between their two „children“, they called the original one Clynelish A, and the new one – Clynelish B. This decision of theirs was rebuked by the Scotch Whisky Association and they found themselves forced to close the old distillery. Only one Clynelish remained in the world – the new one. And here’s a „BUT“ again! A severe drought on the island of Islay negatively affected the production of peated malt, which DCL needed for the legendary Johnnie Walker /obviously affecting the Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries/, and they decided to re-open the old distillery with the idea to produce heavily peated distillate. This time under the name Brora. This same Brora, which now, more than 30 years after its final closure in 1983 still offers expensive and rare bottles, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds /even closed, Brora has had a stock of old whisky and each year Diageo launches on the market small quantities of it, as it reaches unbelievable prices at the auctions/. The new Clynelish distillery continued its existence after the closure of Brora, and its building is now used as a visitor centre and warehouse. The malt distillates was primarily used for Diageo’s blended whiskies. The 14-year-old whisky, which I’m reviewing in this article, was first released in 2002, and in 2005 Clynelish was included in Diageo’s ‘Classic Malts Selection’. And after such a detailed introduction it’s time to introduce you to my notes.
Aroma – sweetish, spicy /reminds me the stinging smell of a sliced ginger/, strong honey notes, fruity – fermented apples, cherries and oranges, fruit liqueurness, vanilla, strongly pronounced caramel, raisins, woodiness, a touch of tobacco /as that of the tin foil in the cigarette pack/, prune jam, acetone. The whisky has a high alcohol content of 46% and I added water – it enhanced the sweetness and caramel, the honey, also appeared a hint of herbal tea, light citrus aroma, which reminded me of pineapple. Taste – peppery, honey, mild peat, dried fruits, a strong tingling on the tip of the tongue after a longer swirling of the whisky in the mouth, bitterness and a hint of ‘cabinet’. With water – the piquancy and light peat stood out. Finish – medium to long, sweetish, buttery, spicy, as after the sweetness appeared and bitterness, prune jam, as well as dried prunes. With water – bitterness, which I associated with apricot kernels and almonds. Assessment: 84,5/100. Price: around 65 lv.
In summary: The aroma I liked more than the taste and aftertaste.