Clynelish 18 Years Old 1997 Waffles and Ice Cream (Wemyss)

An 18 year old Clynelish from the family bottler Wemyss Malts, distilled in 1997, bottled at 54.2%, one of 274 bottles. Clynelish is the coastal Highland malt whose waxiness has made it a cult favourite. The lost Brora distillery beside it, closed in 1983, was revived by Diageo in 2021.

Distilled for the waxy, oily spirit Clynelish is known for, building the cult Clynelish waxiness. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the oily spirit. 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. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the waxy, oily spirit. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt.

At its natural 54.2% it is concentrated. Candle wax, tangerine and a maritime lift, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is waxy and citrussy, the oily spirit shining through. It finishes oily, waxy and bright. This is Clynelish's oily, coastal Highland style.