Whisky from the Netherlands! When I started creating the Explorers Pack I did not expect to be able to include two whiskies from The Netherlands in a row. But thanks to Paul en Maria from Cley Whisky I’ve managed to do just that! There’s a good reason why the word Cley alone gets whisky lovers across the country excited. For a young distillery they make some damned good spirits!
Since I already included a dutch rye whisky in the previous Explorers Pack I decided to go a different route this time. That having been said though, if you get the chance to try the Malt & Rye from Cley take it! It’s a great spirit. But for this pack I wanted to include one of their sherry finished drams and that means the PX or Oloroso Cask. I personally preferred the Oloroso cask and since I already included another PX finished dram in the set as well the choice for Oloroso was once again easily made!
Tasting Notes: Cley – Oloroso Cask
Stats:
ABV: 54% (108 proof)
Age: 4,5 year old
Distillery: Cley
Cask: 3 years in an ex-Bourbon cask and 1,5 years in an ex-Oloroso Quarter Cask
Category: Dutch Single Malt Whisky
Chill-Filtered: No
Natural Colour: Yes
Nose:
A sherry bomb if I’ve ever smelled one! Full of cherries, blackberries, winegums and cotton candy. With just a hint of cacao. But one note that truly speaks to me is that of old polished wood. It’s like opening a dusty drawer of an old wooden cabinet and finding a jar of candy inside. A lovely combination!
Palate:
Very full bodied with almost syrupy characteristics. With a lovely bitterness to it that reminds me of a well-made Italian espresso. There are cherry bonbons, mulled wine, oranges, cloves and nutmeg. Flavours bold, outspoken, and complex. This dram pulls no punches, and the influence of the Oloroso Quarter Casks is clear. It takes the already excellent Cley Single Malt to new heights!
Finish:
The finish is long, mouthcoating and warming. One that truly stays with you for a long time. Literally and figuratively speaking. Cherry candy, dried strawberries and oak shavings stay remain noticeable for quite some time, but it’s the dram altogether that you won’t soon forget.
Verdict:
When trying this dram it’s easy to see why Cley managed to get such a dedicated and enthusiastic fanbase in a short time. It’s not just that the spirit is excellent though, it’s also the passion and enthusiasm of the distillery owners Paul and Maria themselves. After trying a dram of this the best news that I can give you is that they are in the midst of building a new distillery. Which means there will soon be more than enough Cley to go around. But in the meantime, lets savour this excellent Cley Oloroso Cask from their current distillery at the Kleiweg in Rotterdam!
Rating:
87/100
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