Clynelish Reserve (Game of Thrones-House Tyrell)

Man, i hate this Game of Thrones special releases. Only a couple of them were actually good, and they were from Lagavulin and Talisker, proving it is impossible for those two to screw whisky up. I have tasted i believe the last one i was missing, the Clynelish Reserve, from GOT's "House Tyrell". This "special" collection is so bad, you can still buy expressions in The Whisky Exchange for 42 pounds. Having said all that, this one tried its best. Bottled at 51.2%abv. Golden color. On the nose, it is very fruity and honeyed. Pears, bananas, strong mint hard candy. Wet grass. A nice chocolate fudge has risen. A little soapy. Cloth softener. Apple sider. Actually a fresh, appealing aroma. Bee honey. After a first sip, it is all about pears and apples. On the palate it starts with thick honey. It is a spoon of bee honey, with some coconut; there is this peach note lurking in the back of my mouth. Very fruity, easy to hold even for a 51.2% abv. The second sip was very light and watery. It fell dramatically. The peaches are still here and some very mild tickling spice. Apples on the third sip. Aftertaste is not bad, not overly fun either. Sawdust, ginger and mouthdrying. This is a pleasant dram and that is it.  The second sip was even more woody, which is a term i dislike to use, but it gave me exactly this feeling of new wood. Apples. Overall, as most whiskies from this collection, this is not horrible, but also not good. Very standard, maybe pleasant, and definitively boring. This is not the worst of the collection. A nice note, a very light palate, a boring aftertaste, for a whisky that barely passes the test. My score for it is 81 over 100.

(Vita Dulcis Advent Calendar 10/24) On the nose as well as the palate it is a clear, crisp, youthful whisky, slightly acidic, raisins and bright orchard fruits, the palate is hitting very dry and hard and the finish is kinda rough as well. Feels unbalanced and somehow incomplete / unfinished - like a work in progress whisky. A bid of water tames it quite a bid and gets rid of the intense dryness while making it much more mellow and approachable. Taste wise it just isn’t my cup of tea. But I must say it becomes a bid more likable bid by bid. Verdict: not really for me but at least quite powerful and intense - the flavors are just not really compatible with my palate. Actually surprised when I found out this is a Clynelish because many like the 14y (but I assume this NAS is quite far away from the 14y age wise). I could have gotten a few more aromas and flavors (like for example soy sauce on the palate) from it if I would have given it a more in depth look, but I didn’t really bother at all about it.

On the nose, I got buttered biscuits, honeysuckle, lemons/peaches, medium citrus fruits, slight spiciness – cinnamon, white grapes, with a pear on the back end... For the palate, it is a lovely, heavy, waxy mouth coat. Drinks well neat, and not overpowering at cask strength. Wave of oranges, butter, ginger, black pepper, and red chilies. Decent, but short, dry finish with more of the wax with a bitter rind. White pepper, and orange marmalade. Well balanced overall. After a couple drops of water, the nose had tobacco, tea, and leather. The palate brought out additional notes of cream, buttery toffee, and caramel. The waxy factor diminishes a little. 3.5 out of 5. Not a beginner’s whisky. It is worth it at regular price, but not worth the secondary market prices, unless you bought it to resale. The theme to this dram is "John the Fisherman" by Primus. Chunky but gooooooood.

Fragrant fruit on the nose, with mango, pineapple and mandarin surrounded by caramel, hazelnut and wax. Let's throw some marshmellow and dried dates in between. Sweet and silky, with a hint of minerality, very round. The mineral side is more evident on the palate, with a peppery push that makes the whisky more jaunty, reviving the sweet composure of tropical fruit, hazelnuts, biscuits and toffee. The alcoholic boost keeps the attention high, avoiding the risk of flat drinking. The finish is medium-long, with hazelnuts, malt and a citrus touch. The elegant signature of Clynelish clashes with the youth of the malt, but the end result defends itself all in all well, thanks also to the choice of full alcohol content which also makes it fun.

This is my first proper taste of this distillery and, yes, it’s waxy. There’s a distinct aroma of melting candle, but also a hint of perfume and bitter marmalade. Tastes of malt, tamarind, black tea and a hint of burnt match. Rich, oily, spicy. The aftertaste starts with a savory smoldering wax, then turns sweet. Whether you ignore or embrace the marketing, this is a balanced, intriguing whisky that demands your attention. You’ll definitely want more than one glass of this.

Was hoping for Margery Tyrell: robust, vivacious, can win you over with a smile. Instead, it’s Loras Tyrell: very much forgettable. It’s got the classic waxy feel of Clyneish, but just seems imbalanced. Hot at first, then suddenly this mossy taste, then hot again. Thanks to @Richard-ModernDrinking for the generous pour. I’ve been meaning to try the GoT bottlings, and I can knock one more off my list. Thanks again !