23/02/2021 Clynelish

Clynelish 21yo 1995/2017 (54.6%, Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular, Refill Hogshead, C#DL12014, 265b, b#237): nose: caster sugar, dusted onto apple pie, a whisper of encaustic that soon turns into bolder furniture polish, pickled red onion -- in a sweet sort of way, if that makes sense, yet without being onion relish. At the next twist, it is baked potato, dusty books, old sheepskin leather, then heady wine, before it finally delivers some jammy fruits: rowan-berry jelly, billberry curd (dedicated to all Roland Casper fans) and elderberry cordial. It certainly evolves to become rather heady, heavy, even. The second nose is full-on jelly, a tad lighter, now, with quince and acorn jellies. Yes, they make that; a hit in Squirrelandia, I hear. Mouth: crisp and sharp, more so than the nose suggested, it immediately displays pouring honey and vinegar-y pickle, as well as a copious dose of wood dust and galangal shavings, dried to brittle, charry shards. There is even a pinch of ash. The second sip is a little more syrupy, until the alcohol catches up and bites the tongue with a wee dose of cracked black pepper. Elderberry and blackberry then set up camp for good, pitching their tent on a bed of solid oak and mahogany ornaments. Maybe bramble is there too. Not bad. Finish: soft at first, it grows in power, with dark honey on a slice of toasted oak (watch your teeth!), sprinkled with a pinch of ash and wood dust. There persists an impression of dusty old books and desiccating ground walnut shells. It is not unpleasant, but it is borderline, according to my taste. Repeated sipping brings about an impression of darkness: dark wood, dark fruits, dark honey, black-magic spell books... Ha! Ha! It does remain drying, in the long run. Decent, but it does not enthral me, tonight. 7/10