Clynelish 21 Years Old 1995 Cask #10203 (Elixir)

A Clynelish of a 21 year old chosen by Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers, distilled in 1995, from cask 10203, bottled at 55.9%, one of 246 bottles. Clynelish makes the celebrated waxy, oily Highland malt on the far north east coast at Brora. Water comes from the Clynemilton Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills.

Run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, for an oily, lemony make with a savoury edge. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the oily spirit. 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. The lost Brora distillery beside it, closed in 1983, was revived by Diageo in 2021. The original Clynelish was founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford during the Highland Clearances.

At 55.9%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. The famous wax over lemon and orange, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Orange, beeswax and a maritime salt fill the middle. A long, waxy finish carries an orange sweetness. This is the waxy heart of Johnnie Walker Gold.