Clynelish 19 Years Old 1995 Wood Range Sherry Cask (Cadenhead’s)

This Clynelish was bottled by Scotland's oldest independent bottler Cadenhead's, a 19 year old, distilled in 1995, bottled at 54.6%, one of 492 bottles. Clynelish is the waxy, maritime Highland single malt at the heart of Johnnie Walker Gold. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt.

Drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for an oily, lemony make with a savoury edge. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a little coconut under the wax. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the wax and citrus at their best. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. The distillery was built in 1967 next to the original Clynelish of 1819, which was renamed Brora and later closed. Clynelish sits on the North Sea coast at Brora, in the far north east of the Highlands.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.6%, it is rich. Beeswax, citrus and a honeyed oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A lemon, a brine and a thick wax lift it. A long, waxy finish carries an orange sweetness. This is Clynelish, the wax of the Sutherland coast.