Clynelish 19 Years Old 1995 Cask #4676 (Duncan Taylor)

From the Huntly bottler Duncan Taylor, a 19 year old Clynelish, distilled in 1995, from cask 4676, bottled at 48.4%, one of 221 bottles. Clynelish, built in 1967 beside the old Brora distillery, is known for its signature waxy texture. The lost Brora distillery beside it, closed in 1983, was revived by Diageo in 2021.

Made in copper stills for a coastal, waxy make, for a maritime spirit with a beeswax richness. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the soft oak letting the waxy citrus lead. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are fully expressed, the wax and citrus at their best. Refill oak lets the famous Clynelish wax lead, lemon and honey beneath. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the waxy, oily spirit. The unpeated make leans on texture and citrus, the cask adding depth. Years in oak round the spirit, the citrus deepening to orange and tropical fruit.

Bottled at a cask strength 48.4%, it is rich. Beeswax, honey and a coastal freshness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. A long, waxy finish carries an orange sweetness. This is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt.