Prima & Ultima Clynelish 1996 26 year old, 52%

The nose is curiously reluctant to open up, but with time reveals notes of cocoa, apple pie, caramel, smoked green olive, iodine, and pepper. The mouthfeel has a syrupy sweetness, with baked apple, nougat, peppery spice, vanilla fudge, hints of red chile, baked ham, and clove, with Clynelish waxiness developing and leading to a drying finish. A bold and experimental choice to represent Clynelish in this year’s lineup. (889 bottles; price per 8-bottle set)