15/11/2022 Clydeside

Clydeside 34mo (unknown ABV, cask sample, re-racked ex-Sherry Cask + ex-Bourbon Casks): nose: it has an allure of eau-de-vie (it is exactly what this is, after all), wrapped in a fruity blanket; apricots, mirabelle plums, nectarines. Soon after that, it puts on the scent of the wines aisle at Colruyt or Delhaize (oddly, the wines aisle of supermarkets in the UK do not smell the same -- it must be the screw caps). Then, we have vin de paille, a couple of cut daffodils, and a sip of Maitrank, before we return to yellow fruits, this time with a splash of ether. The second nose turns the youthful brashness into unexpected flint and a hazelnut liqueur so dry one could think it is a hazelnut spirit. If that does not exist, then why not? Finally, clean socks appear, as an afterthought. Water unleashes tutti frutti on damp blotting paper, as pleasant and entertaining as it is weird. Mouth: there is a strange dichotomy at play, here; on one hand, it is fiery, rough, and eau-de-vie-like, as one might expect of a spirit from this age; on the other, it balances that with yellow fruits and a comforting warmth that is seldom achieved by a spirit of this age. Plums, nectarines, Golden apples, soaked in eau-de-vie, a dollop of vanilla custard via retro-nasal olfaction, and a shot of fruit-flavoured pékèt on top. The second sip has a bitterer edge, almonds or barely-ripe hazelnut. Keeping it on the tongue adds a cereal taste as well -- barley, oats, spelt. Water takes the edge off, pacifies it, almost, leaving tutti frutti here too, and a droplet of rubbing alcohol. Finish: it is a winner, now, with vanilla custard perfectly ironing out the asperities of youth. It is not just vanilla, however: we also have a spoonful of sirop de Liège, which is to say caramelised apples and quinces, mashed into a sticky spread. Repeated sipping welcomes a note of menthol that becomes so fierce it feels as though it will melt the teeth. Not sure water works as well, here; it adds milk chocolate to the vanilla custard, but also mocha, which is less my thing. This is very promising, yet also very good as is! 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, kind donor)