Clynelish 26 Years Old 1995 Cask #8659 (Elixir)

Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers selected this Clynelish, a 26 year old, distilled in 1995, from cask 8659, bottled at 50.7%, one of 576 bottles. Clynelish stands on the North Sea coast at Brora, the modern neighbour of the lost Brora distillery. The original Clynelish was founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford during the Highland Clearances.

It was run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, for the famous waxy texture at its heart. A sherry cask wrapped the waxy spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Through the evaporative decades the oils concentrate, lactones and esters folding into mango, beeswax and a coastal salt. The wax sits at the heart of the spirit, the cask building fruit and honey around it. Active wood frames the citrus without smothering the waxy texture. Refill oak lets the famous Clynelish wax lead, lemon and honey beneath.

At a full 50.7% it is bold yet waxy. Beeswax, honey and a coastal freshness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The texture is thick and oily, the wax coating the palate. The finish is long, waxy and citrussy. This is a coastal Highland single malt of rare texture.