Clynelish 23 Years Old 1995 Cask #11227 (Signatory)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage selected this Clynelish, a 23 year old, distilled in 1995, from cask 11227, bottled at 56.3%, one of 623 bottles. Clynelish is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt from the village of Brora. Water comes from the Clynemilton Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills.

The spirit was run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, giving the oily, candle wax character Clynelish is prized for. A sherry cask wrapped the waxy spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Through the evaporative decades the oils concentrate, lactones and esters folding into mango, beeswax and a coastal salt. Clynelish wax and a maritime salt run through the maturing spirit. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt.

At 56.3%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. An oily wax with citrus and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. Citrus, wax and a faint brine see out the finish. This is a coastal Highland single malt of rare texture.