Clynelish 25 Years Old 1996 Cask #9 (Precious Liquors)

From the bottler Precious Liquors, a 25 year old Clynelish, distilled in 1996, from cask 9, bottled at 48.4%, one of 318 bottles. Clynelish is a waxy, citrussy Highland single malt from the village of Brora. Two old Brora warehouses still stand on the site, a link to its silent neighbour.

Run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, for the famous waxy texture at its heart. 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 clean, oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey over the wax. Active wood frames the citrus without smothering the waxy texture. The cool, salt laden coastal air works into the maturing casks at Brora. The lost Brora distillery beside it, closed in 1983, was revived by Diageo in 2021.

At 48.4%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. Candle wax, tangerine and a maritime lift, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A beeswax and a savoury edge give it depth. The close is long, wax over a citrus lift. This is a coastal Highland single malt of rare texture.