Clynelish 18 Years Old 1996 Cask #6514 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage selected this Clynelish, an 18 year old, distilled in 1996, from cask 6514, bottled at 56.4%, one of 590 bottles. Clynelish is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt from the village of Brora. Clynelish is unpeated, its character built on texture, citrus and coast rather than smoke.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, giving the oily, candle wax character Clynelish is prized for. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut over the wax. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, lemon turning to candied orange over a thick, oily wax. The oily, waxy texture is the signature that blenders prize above all. Clynelish sits on the North Sea coast at Brora, in the far north east of the Highlands. Two old Brora warehouses still stand on the site, a link to its silent neighbour.

At its natural 56.4% it is concentrated. Waxy honey, lemon and a savoury edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is oily, the citrus carried on a waxy body. Citrus, wax and a faint brine see out the finish. This is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt.