Clynelish 35 Years Old 1971 Old & Rare The Platinum Selection (Douglas Laing)

This Clynelish was bottled by the Glasgow bottler Douglas Laing, a 35 year old, distilled in 1971, bottled at 46.5%, one of 246 bottles. Clynelish is the coastal Highland malt whose waxiness has made it a cult favourite. Water comes from the Clynemilton Burn, the spirit drawn off three wash and three spirit stills.

Drawn off three wash and three spirit stills, to build a waxy, coastal, citrussy spirit. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, vanilla and honey behind the wax. In its ethereal years the malt is profoundly waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a touch of sotolon (maple, spice). Long ageing turns the fresh lemon towards candied orange, beeswax and tropical fruit. The unpeated make leans on texture and citrus, the cask adding depth. The famous wax is said to come from the build up in the distillery's feints receivers. The distillery was built in 1967 next to the original Clynelish of 1819, which was renamed Brora and later closed.

At 46.5% it is clean and coastal. The famous wax over lemon and orange, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath it run candle wax, lemon and a coastal salt. Citrus, wax and a faint brine see out the finish. This is the cult waxy malt of Brora.