Disappointed

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Great sherry integration with the waxy side of the distillate, some nuts, really good.

Old school sherry notes, but quite sweet and unbalanced.

Nose: Old book, herbs, burnt caramel, persimmon

Palate: Ruined by overwhelming sweetness, liquorice.

Body: Not that waxy, sticky, burning and medium

Finish: long with herbs and medical

Color: Dark Amber

Nose: Really nice, clean sherry profile. There's non-overpowering dried fruit, sweet cherries (but not cherry cough syrup, which I often find in older sherry drams), light tobacco. None of it is out-of-balance. It's clearly sherry-led, but I don't feel the Clynelish is totally obscured as a result. That's usually a positive for me, especially when you have a well-regarded distillate, so we're off to a nice start. With water, I get less sherry flavors and more typical Clynelish.

Mouth: Powerful, big, and viscous. Despite the hefty ABV, I'm not picking up much, if any, heat when tasted neat. There's a fruity feel, but it's certainly not sweet. If anything, there's a tinge of bitterness, but that's not a strike. The palate is earthy, and it works wonderfully as a continuation of the nose. Similarly, you indubitably feel the sherry, but it's not at all like drinking certain drams that almost seem like further fortified sherry itself (thinking of certain Glendronachs, for instance). I start to feel a drying sensation with water, but still quite good.

Finish: Solid finish bringing back the bitterness, fruit, and savoriness.

Comments: A total hit for me. The TWE 20th Anniversary has been pretty good to us this year, hasn't it? I have been looking for a good '95 Clynelish for a little while on the basis of Serge's continual praise for the vintage. While this isn't the most "Clynelish" dram, it does nothing to disprove his affection for this era.

Incredibly savoury on the nose. Initial nose was mildly astringent with a hint of some kind of mushrooms, old leather and walnuts. After the bottle has had some time with air this astringency and mushroom-sourness goes completely, with the nose consisting of old leather, damp earth, deep sherry, and definitely a chestnut puree note as was mentioned by serge in his review. Also a wonderful savoury note. If I had this blind I wouldn't be able to tell it was Clynelish from the nose

Taste goes straight back to usual Clynelish markers integrated with the nosing notes above. Pleasant. Finish is long and about the same as taste with herbal, earthy notes in the fade