Clynelish 21 Years Old 1991 Cask #13217 (van Wees)

The Dutch bottler van Wees selected this Clynelish, a 21 year old, distilled in 1991, from cask 13217, bottled at 46%, one of 292 bottles. Clynelish is a coastal Highland distillery at Brora in Sutherland, famous for its waxy single malt. The distillery was built in 1967 next to the original Clynelish of 1819, which was renamed Brora and later closed.

The spirit was made in copper stills for a coastal, waxy make, to build a waxy, coastal, citrussy spirit. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the waxy character to the fore. At oxidative maturity aldehydes and esters lend tropical fruit while ellagitannins add a drying grip to the waxy malt. Clynelish wax and a maritime salt run through the maturing spirit. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders.

At 46% it is oily, citrussy and clean. An oily wax with citrus and brine, with a soft vanilla from the oak. The mouthfeel is oily, the citrus carried on a waxy body. The finish is deep, waxy and maritime. This is an oily, maritime Highland single malt.