Clynelish 24 Years Old 1995 Cask #11229 (Signatory)

This Clynelish was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 24 year old, distilled in 1995, from cask 11229, bottled at 54.5%, one of 573 bottles. Clynelish stands on the North Sea coast at Brora, the modern neighbour of the lost Brora distillery. The famous wax is said to come from the build up in the distillery's feints receivers.

It was distilled from unpeated malt in the distillery's tall stills, building the cult Clynelish waxiness. Maturation in an Oloroso cask laid dried fruit over the oily, coastal malt. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend a drying structure while oxidation builds waxy tropical fruit. The clean, oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey over the wax. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the waxy, citrussy core over the years.

At its natural 54.5% it is concentrated. An oily wax with citrus and brine, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A beeswax and a savoury edge give it depth. The finish is deep, waxy and maritime. This is a coastal Highland single malt of rare texture.