Clynelish 21 Years Old 1996 Cask #11389 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Clynelish, a 21 year old, distilled in 1996, from cask 11389, bottled at 52.6%, one of 515 bottles. Clynelish stands on the North Sea coast at Brora, the modern neighbour of the lost Brora distillery. It is the heart malt of Johnnie Walker Gold Label, and a sought after single malt in its own right.

Distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, for an oily, lemony make with a savoury edge. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the waxy spirit. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, lemon turning to candied orange over a thick, oily wax. 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. Water comes from the Clynemilton Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills.

At cask strength 52.6% it is full bodied. A thick wax over orchard fruit and citrus, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run candle wax, lemon and a coastal salt. It finishes oily, waxy and bright. This is Clynelish, the wax of the Sutherland coast.