Clynelish, 12 Year Old, Special Release 2022,

Retreating against a wild beauty, into the bramble-filled woods of the Highlands, Clynelish is a distillery even more remote than most. It is also the natural habitat to the elusive Scottish wildcat, Felix Sylvestris. Few of these evanescent creatures remain and rarely are they seen, but the wildcat symbol is emblazoned on the Clyenlish distillery, guarding it for all time. Matured in refill American Oak, then in PX and Oloroso seasoned casks, this Clynelish is rich, waxy and full of fruit. A very smooth, mouth-filling texture introduces a lively taste that is rich and wine-sweet overall, the palate well-balanced by snarling peppery, oaky spice. A little water enhances the sweetness, steers the smoothness of the texture towards waxiness and rounds the flavours, which soon give way again to spicy heat.