Clynelish 11 Years Old 2011 Cask #800289 (Elixir)

Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers bottled this Clynelish, an 11 year old, distilled in 2011, from cask 800289, bottled at 61%, one of 81 bottles. Clynelish, built in 1967 beside the old Brora distillery, is known for its signature waxy texture. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, giving the oily, candle wax character Clynelish is prized for. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the waxy character to the fore. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the waxy, oily spirit growing rounder. The waxy, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its citrus and coast. Clynelish is unpeated, its character built on texture, citrus and coast rather than smoke. Active wood frames the citrus without smothering the waxy texture.

At a hearty 61% it carries real weight. A thick wax over orchard fruit and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Orange, beeswax and a maritime salt fill the middle. It finishes oily, waxy and bright. This is an oily, maritime Highland single malt.