BBR Whisky Sample Sutherland (Clynelish) 21 Year Old 2022 Release (30ml, 52.2%)

BBR Whisky Sample Sutherland (Clynelish) 21 Year Old 2022 Release (30ml, 52.2%)

This is a "connoisseur’s choice" bottling from Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR).

A 21-year-old Clynelish is widely considered the "sweet spot" for this distillery. At this age, the legendary waxy texture has fully developed into a thick, mouth-coating silkiness, and the vibrant Highland fruit has mellowed into something sophisticated and honeyed.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Classic, textbook Clynelish. It opens with an unmistakable note of unscented beeswax and polished furniture. This is followed by a lush fruitiness: tinned pineapples, clementines, and dried apricots. There is a delicate floral layer—like gorse bushes in the sun—and a faint, flinty minerality that hints at its North Sea coastline origins.

Palate: The texture is the star of the show; it is viscous, oily, and heavy, coating the palate like thickened honey. The flavor leads with heather honey and vanilla bean, quickly transitioning into salted caramel and lemon curd. Mid-palate, it turns more savory and complex with notes of white pepper, sage, and a touch of mustard seed.

Finish: Long, elegant, and "grippy." The waxy coating lingers on the tongue, accompanied by dry oak spice, sea salt, and a final burst of zesty lime. It leaves the mouth feeling clean despite the oily texture.

Why it's special

BBR Selection Prowess: Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant; their "Sutherland" picks are historically some of the most consistent and high-quality representations of this spirit on the market.