Clynelish 11 Years Old 2014 Càrn Mòr (Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers)

An 11 year old Clynelish from the bottler Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, distilled in 2014, bottled at 52.4%, one of 264 bottles. Clynelish is a coastal Highland distillery at Brora in Sutherland, famous for its waxy single malt. Clynelish is unpeated, its character built on texture, citrus and coast rather than smoke.

The spirit was run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, for an oily, lemony make with a savoury edge. A bourbon barrel held it, vanilla and a little coconut under the wax. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the malt, the waxy body oilier and softer. The unpeated make leans on texture and citrus, the cask adding depth. Two old Brora warehouses still stand on the site, a link to its silent neighbour. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders.

Bottled at a cask strength 52.4%, it is rich. A thick wax over orchard fruit and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Orange, beeswax and a maritime salt fill the middle. The finish runs waxy, coastal and clean. This is the famously waxy Highland malt of Clynelish.