Clynelish 17 Years Old 2004 Cask #800100 (Samaroli)

From the bottler Samaroli, a 17 year old Clynelish, distilled in 2004, from cask 800100, bottled at 54.6%, one of 292 bottles. Clynelish is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt from the village of Brora. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders.

Drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, for a maritime spirit with a beeswax richness. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the waxy character to the fore. Into oxidative maturity, slow air ingress builds fruity ethyl esters (orange and pineapple) over the deepening wax. Refill oak lets the famous Clynelish wax lead, lemon and honey beneath. The clean, oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey over the wax. Clynelish sits on the North Sea coast at Brora, in the far north east of the Highlands. Clynelish wax and a maritime salt run through the maturing spirit.

At a natural 54.6% it is full and oily. An oily wax with citrus and brine, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A lemon, a brine and a thick wax lift it. A long, oily finish ends on lemon and beeswax. This is the waxy heart of Johnnie Walker Gold.