Clynelish 14 Years Old 2012 Cask #CY1226 (Hidden Spirits)

From the bottler Hidden Spirits, a 14 year old Clynelish, distilled in 2012, from cask CY1226, bottled at 52.2%. Clynelish, on the Sutherland coast, makes one of the most distinctive textures in Scotch, its famous wax. 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, for an oily, lemony make with a savoury edge. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the waxy character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as ethyl esters lend a riper citrus over the wax. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the waxy, citrussy core over the years. Clynelish is unpeated, its character built on texture, citrus and coast rather than smoke.

At its natural 52.2% it is concentrated. An oily wax with citrus and brine, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run candle wax, lemon and a coastal salt. A long, oily finish ends on lemon and beeswax. This is the waxy heart of Johnnie Walker Gold.