Clynelish 24 Years Old 1996 Black White Art (Sansibar)

A 24 year old Clynelish from the German bottler Sansibar, distilled in 1996, bottled at 54.8%, one of 283 bottles. Clynelish makes the celebrated waxy, oily Highland malt on the far north east coast at Brora. The distillery was built in 1967 next to the original Clynelish of 1819, which was renamed Brora and later closed.

The spirit was run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, building the cult Clynelish waxiness. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla over the oily spirit. Through the evaporative decades the oils concentrate, lactones and esters folding into mango, beeswax and a coastal salt. Active wood frames the citrus without smothering the waxy texture. Water comes from the Clynemilton Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills. Long ageing turns the fresh lemon towards candied orange, beeswax and tropical fruit. The original Clynelish was founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford during the Highland Clearances.

At a full 54.8% it is bold yet waxy. Beeswax, citrus and a honeyed oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A beeswax and a savoury edge give it depth. A long, oily finish ends on lemon and beeswax. This is Clynelish's oily, coastal Highland style.