Clynelish 30 Years Old 1993 Dalswinton Series (Claxton’s)

The bottler Claxton's selected this Clynelish, a 30 year old, distilled in 1993, bottled at 44.4%. Clynelish stands on the North Sea coast at Brora, the modern neighbour of the lost Brora distillery. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the waxy, oily spirit.

It was distilled for the waxy, oily spirit Clynelish is known for, giving the oily, candle wax character Clynelish is prized for. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the soft oak letting the waxy citrus lead. Ethereal and old, decades draw the malt to a waxy, tropical delicacy of sotolon, beeswax and polished oak. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the wax. Years in oak round the spirit, the citrus deepening to orange and tropical fruit. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt. The oily, waxy texture is the signature that blenders prize above all.

Bottled at a cask strength 44.4%, it is rich. A thick wax over orchard fruit and citrus, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Orange, beeswax and a maritime salt fill the middle. It finishes oily, waxy and bright. This is the famously waxy Highland malt of Clynelish.