Scotch

Whisky Review: Clynelish 14 Year Old Flora & Fauna

The success of this Clynelish 14 Year Old Flora & Fauna prompted Diageo, the distillery's owner, to revamp the brand in 2002.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

This Clynelish 14 Year Old was bottled by Diageo as part of a special release series, which began in 1991. Famed whisky writer, Michael Jackson, later referred to the series as ‘Flora & Fauna’, and the name stuck. This 14 Year Old is often credited with being the whisky that kickstarted Clynelish’s comeback in 2002.
Appearance:
Ice wine
Nose:
That lemony/wax tang that we all expect from Clynelish is right upfront. Loads of freshly cut grass, petrichor, and fresh pear juice moving around the glass. More candied fruit starts to pop out the longer it’s in the glass, candied lemon peel and orange peel, but the grassy notes are the dominant force, with some very light notes of caramel in there as well.
Palate:
Oily! Even at 43%. A really dense texture that has so much fresh fruit bursting from it: apples, pears, white grapes and orange. A delicate salty note also working it’s way around, with the lightest touch of barrel spice, but it comes across as a gentle heat at the back of the tongue. More candied fruits and the creamy caramel note coming back in.
Finish:
Rich, oily, full, and gently sweet. You get this backdraft of juicy fruit, it’s almost like bubblegum, but it seems lile darker and richer fruits: blackberries and red grapes. A real fruit cordial finish to this.
Comments:
Excellent but really showing what Clynelish really used to be. The newer bottles I’ve had aren’t a patch on this. Perfect summer whisky.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer is a freelance whisky writer and consultant. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil managed The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curated an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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