Clynelish 2004 'Expression' Cask#800101 Masam 54% 15ml / 30ml

2018 release from the private collection of Silvano Samaroli bottled - these early Masam releases between 2016 and 2019 were epic and modern classics most were picked as ready for bottling by Silvano himself during this period until his death in 2017. This collection is Instantly recognisable by their black bottles based on some of the oldest known whisky bottles from the 18th Century. There are not many casks left from Silvano's personal stash so the recent release may be the last from his widow Maryse Samaroli. Personally I feel this younger Clynelish is better than the 2022 release with a higher age statement. Maybe do a side by side blind tasting to see if the earlier releases are better than the more recent ones. This one is fruity and the classic Clynelish waxiness is really evident - a vibrant whisky with a great mouthfeel and a really long finish. This younger malt showcases the Clynelish distillate. This bottling is highly collectable and was very expensive on release like most Samarolis and now a bit silly on the secondary market - but the quality is great.