Clynelish 26 Years Old 1992 Cask #CY9219 (Hidden Spirits)

A Clynelish of a 26 year old chosen by the bottler Hidden Spirits, distilled in 1992, from cask CY9219, bottled at 50.1%, one of 193 bottles. Clynelish is the waxy, maritime Highland single malt at the heart of Johnnie Walker Gold. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders.

It was distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, building the cult Clynelish waxiness. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and honey behind the wax. Through the evaporative decades the oils concentrate, lactones and esters folding into mango, beeswax and a coastal salt. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the waxy, oily spirit. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the wax. The waxy, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its citrus and coast.

At a full 50.1% it is bold yet waxy. A thick wax over orchard fruit and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. The finish is deep, waxy and maritime. This is the waxy heart of Johnnie Walker Gold.