Colour: deep gold.

Nose: fine, full-bodied. The magnificently herbaceous (cut hay) and fruity (pineapple, banana) first nose quickly develops waxy notes that immediately plunge us into the world of Clynelish. Allowed to breathe, new fruits (pear, apple) appear, as well as particularly subtle fragrances of vanilla and green liquorice. The increasingly creamy aroma palette (semolina, rice pudding) is also peppery, salty—almost medicinal (ointment, camphor)—and lemony.

Palate: dense, well-balanced. With its malted and lemony flavours, the abundantly natural attack is closely linked to the nose. The stately and luminous mid-palate then reveals extremely delicate floral notes (lily of the valley, white lilac, rose petal). The very pleasantly salty end of the palate is like a rustic seaside landscape where, around a corner, we catch a glimpse of the Clynelish and Brora distilleries.

Finish: serene, delicate. The just-as wonderfully lush and salty start of the finish reveals an incredible smooth honeyed softness (acacia). The exotic (coconut, pineapple) and praline end of the finish then invites us to enjoy a succulent courgette flower tempura. On the retro-nasal olfaction, noble spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg) bring lots of drive to the end of the finish. The milky, fruity (banana) and rooty (gentian) empty glass reproduces the stately character of this venerable bottling.