Clynelish 11 Years Old 1995 (Eilan Gillan)

The bottler Eilan Gillan bottled this Clynelish, an 11 year old, distilled in 1995, bottled at 46%. Clynelish is the coastal Highland malt whose waxiness has made it a cult favourite. The lost Brora distillery beside it, closed in 1983, was revived by Diageo in 2021.

It was worked through the tall stills for a citrussy, oily spirit, building the cult Clynelish waxiness. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed vanilla. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the waxy, oily spirit growing rounder. Long ageing turns the fresh lemon towards candied orange, beeswax and tropical fruit. The unpeated make leans on texture and citrus, the cask adding depth. It is the heart malt of Johnnie Walker Gold Label, and a sought after single malt in its own right. The original Clynelish was founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford during the Highland Clearances.

At an approachable 46% it is balanced. Waxy honey, lemon and a savoury edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. The finish is long, waxy and citrussy. This is the cult waxy malt of Brora.