Clynelish 23 Years Old (Cadenhead’s)

Scotland's oldest independent bottler Cadenhead's selected this Clynelish, a 23 year old, bottled at 51.7%. Clynelish is a Diageo distillery at Brora, prized by blenders for its oily, waxy malt. Its waxy character, a candle wax and beeswax texture, is prized above almost any other by blenders.

Made in copper stills for a coastal, waxy make, giving the oily, candle wax character Clynelish is prized for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the oily, coastal spirit. Oxidative, evaporative ageing turns the malt deep and waxy, ethereal esters and a faint sotolon (maple). The waxy, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its citrus and coast. The original Clynelish was founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford during the Highland Clearances. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the wax. The distillery was built in 1967 next to the original Clynelish of 1819, which was renamed Brora and later closed.

Bottled at a cask strength 51.7%, it is rich. A thick wax over orchard fruit and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. The close is long, wax over a citrus lift. This is Clynelish's oily, coastal Highland style.