Whisky of the month July
CLEY
PX CASK
Batch 2 limited edition
The whisky of the month July takes us to Rotterdam.
Not Scotland.
Not Islay mist.
Not a stag looking dramatic on a hill.
Rotterdam, a city that builds first and explains later.
And that fits Cley perfectly.
Cley Distillery was founded in Rotterdam in 2015 by Paul den Dulk and Maria Neves.
What started as a micro-distillery has grown into one of the most interesting Dutch whisky stories of the moment.
They make whisky and gin, based on a Dutch distilling tradition that goes back to the 17th century.
Not by copying Scotland, but by looking at what Dutch distilling can be.
That is why Cley Pedro Ximénez Batch No. 2 is Whisky of the Month July.
Because this bottle sits in a nice place, between old Dutch craft and new Rotterdam ambition, between young whisky and serious flavour and between a distillery that started small and a distillery that clearly has bigger plans.
And Cley is no longer just “nice because it is Dutch”.
Their cask strength single malt has been praised as remarkable for its age, full of flavour and a standout among Dutch whiskies.
Cley also won Best Dutch Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards.
So yes, Rotterdam can make whisky and apparently, Rotterdam can make whisky that gets noticed.
For that reason alone it has earned its title as Whisky of the month July
CLEY
Pedro Ximénez cask
Limited edition
Rotterdam, PX, spice and
a little Dutch stubbornness
Tasting notes
When I open it:
The glass goes dark quite quickly.
Dates, figs, raisins and toffee rise up from the glass.
That proper Pedro Ximénez feeling.
There is orange peel too and a spicy cinnamon and nutmeg.
A bit of espresso in the background.
And below all that, the vanilla, oak and biscuit of the bourbon cask is still there.
It is young, yes, but that young does not mean simple. It has the energy of youth
When I taste it:
The arrival is rich and warming.
The Pedro Ximénez comes first.
Dates, maple syrup, raisins and dark caramel.
Then the spice starts to build.
Cinnamon, clove, walnut, and dark chocolate.
At 50%, it has grip. A firm Rotterdam handshake that lasts just a second longer than expected.
There is oak too, and that matters because PX can sometimes turn whisky into liquid Christmas pudding.
This one stays whisky.
Sweet, yes.
Rich, yes.
But also spicy, dry enough and full of character.
When I swallow it:
The finish is warm, and long enough to make you enjoy it before you take the next sip.
Dark fruit slowly turns into cocoa, spice and orange peel.
There is a little espresso bitterness.
Then a final touch of clove.
The sweetness stays, but it dries out towards the end.
That is where I enjoy it most; it does not simply disappear, it leaves something behind.
Mouthfeel
Full, warm and slightly oily.
The PX cask gives it roundness and weight.
The 50% keeps it standing upright.
Spice in the middle.
Dark sweetness around the edges.
A dry, warming finish.
Give it ten minutes in the glass.
No ice, of course no ice, unless you want to, but i would not cool down Rotterdam ambition.
Gin.whis notes
I would not pour this Pedro Ximenez while doing three other things.
This is an after-dinner dram.
The barbecue is cooling down.
The cheese is still on the table.
Someone should probably clear the glasses, but nobody does.
That is the moment where this bottle belongs.
What I like is that it clearly states Rotterdam can make whisky too.
Because whisky is not only about age, region or reputation, it is about story.
And this story is close to home.
A Dutch distillery building its future, one batch at a time.
A PX cask giving the whisky depth and darkness, it feels bold, maybe a little rough around the edges, but in a good way.
For July, that works beautifully.
Sometimes July is warm evenings, grilled food, open doors, late conversations and a whisky that feels slightly too rich for the weather
but somehow exactly right.
Enjoy it with:
A piece of over-aged De Rotterdamsche Oude 100 weeks matured cheese
Crumbly and full of ripening crystals visible on the cheese. Delicious after dinner.
Dark chocolate, preferably 70% or higher but definately not milk chocolate.
Or simply after a visit to Rotterdam.
Because some bottles taste better when you know where the story started.
Origin: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Distillery: Cley Distillery
Style: Rich, spicy, sherried Dutch single malt
ABV: 50%
Cask Finish: Bourbon and Pedro Ximénez sherry
Batch: Limited Edition Batch No. 2, Distillery Exclusive
Age Statement: 3 years bourbon cask followed by 1,5 year PX cask