Clynelish 33 Years Old 1973 Cask #8914 (Signatory)

This Clynelish was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 33 year old, distilled in 1973, from cask 8914, bottled at 54.2%, one of 455 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.

It was run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, for a maritime spirit with a beeswax richness. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the soft oak letting the waxy citrus lead. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and old oak as beeswax and a coastal salt linger. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. Long ageing turns the fresh lemon towards candied orange, beeswax and tropical fruit. Refill oak lets the famous Clynelish wax lead, lemon and honey beneath. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the waxy, citrussy core over the years.

At a hearty 54.2% it carries real weight. Beeswax, honey and a coastal freshness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Orange, beeswax and a maritime salt fill the middle. The close is long, wax over a citrus lift. This is an oily, maritime Highland single malt.