Clynelish 25 Years Old 1993 Cask #Batch 19/079 (Connoisseurs Choice)

From the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, a 25 year old Clynelish, distilled in 1993, from cask Batch 19/079, bottled at 54.3%, one of 220 bottles. Clynelish is a Diageo distillery at Brora, prized by blenders for its oily, waxy malt. Clynelish sits on the North Sea coast at Brora, in the far north east of the Highlands.

Distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, for a maritime spirit with a beeswax richness. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a little coconut under the wax. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds waxy tropical fruit. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt. Active wood frames the citrus without smothering the waxy texture. Refill oak lets the famous Clynelish wax lead, lemon and honey beneath.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.3%, it is rich. Candle wax, lemon and a coastal salt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is waxy and citrussy, the oily spirit shining through. The finish runs waxy, coastal and clean. This is Clynelish's oily, coastal Highland style.