Even though when I was there no Hand Filled Exclusive was available, I got my hands on a sample of an earlier edition. I tend to love Clynelish, and therefore I try to get my hands on the occasional sample. It’s one of those distilleries that sits very near to the top of my list of favorites.

This one was bottled in 2021, at 12 years old. By my estimate it sold for about £ 100 to £ 125 back then, but it’s currently available in the secondary market for £ 365. Things like this can easily be seen as an investment, but you would have to be at the distillery at the right time, and keep yourself from opening the bottle. I guess I’ll never be rich.

Sniff:
Candles, wax coats and dried apricots. Lots of honey, a whiff of heather and gorse. A bit of oak in the background. With some time it gets a bit of a Sriracha fiery scent. Some dark oak and tree bark.

Sip:
Lots of oak, mulch and tree bark. Heather and honey and dried apricots. Not overly sweet but there’s a twig like bitterness too. Waxy, with candles and beeswax.

Swallow:
The finish starts quite waxy, but gets slightly more fruity within a few seconds. Dried apples and apricots. Heather and honey. Raisin twigs and grape seeds.

Again, quintessential Clynelish. I think I preferred the ‘Four Corners of Scotland‘ bottling, but that was a lot more expensive and a couple of years older, so there’s that. This would have gone quickly too, since it’s utterly lovely. Lots of ‘Highlands’ flavors, with honey and heather, oak and waxy notes. Gorgeous!

89/100