Clynelish 30 Years Old 1995 Cask #8681 (Signatory)

This Clynelish was bottled by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 30 year old, distilled in 1995, from cask 8681, bottled at 54.5%, one of 504 bottles. Clynelish makes the celebrated waxy, oily Highland malt on the far north east coast at Brora. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt.

Run through copper stills on Clynemilton Burn water, for an oily, lemony make with a savoury edge. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut over the wax. In its ethereal years the malt is profoundly waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, spice). The wax sits at the heart of the spirit, the cask building fruit and honey around it. The clean, oily spirit shows the cask clearly, vanilla and honey over the wax. Refill oak lets the famous Clynelish wax lead, lemon and honey beneath.

At 54.5%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. Beeswax, honey and a coastal freshness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft citrus and a honeyed wax sit behind the cask. A long, waxy finish carries an orange sweetness. This is an oily, maritime Highland single malt.