Clynelish 18 Years Old 1996 Old & Rare A Platinum Selection (Hunter Laing)

From the independent Hunter Laing, an 18 year old Clynelish, distilled in 1996, bottled at 54.9%, one of 304 bottles. Clynelish, built in 1967 beside the old Brora distillery, is known for its signature waxy texture. The famous wax is said to come from the build up in the distillery's feints receivers.

Distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, to build a waxy, coastal, citrussy spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the wax. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, lemon turning to candied orange over a thick, oily wax. 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. The wax sits at the heart of the spirit, the cask building fruit and honey around it. The distillery was built in 1967 next to the original Clynelish of 1819, which was renamed Brora and later closed.

At a hearty 54.9% it carries real weight. Waxy honey, lemon and a savoury edge, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. The close is long, wax over a citrus lift. This is the waxy heart of Johnnie Walker Gold.