Clynelish 23 Years Old 1995 Cask #11242 (Signatory)

A 23 year old Clynelish from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1995, from cask 11242, bottled at 56.4%, one of 592 bottles. Clynelish is the coastal Highland malt whose waxiness has made it a cult favourite. Clynelish sits on the North Sea coast at Brora, in the far north east of the Highlands.

The spirit was distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, building the cult Clynelish waxiness. An Oloroso hogshead lent raisin and a savoury, nutty edge to the wax. Oxidative, evaporative ageing turns the malt deep and waxy, ethereal esters and a faint sotolon (maple). Years in oak round the spirit, the citrus deepening to orange and tropical fruit. The wax sits at the heart of the spirit, the cask building fruit and honey around it. Clynelish is unpeated, its character built on texture, citrus and coast rather than smoke.

At its natural 56.4% it is concentrated. The famous wax over lemon and orange, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is oily, the citrus carried on a waxy body. It finishes oily, waxy and bright. This is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt.