Clynelish 8 Years Old 2010 The Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks (Elixir)

Sukhinder Singh's Elixir Distillers selected this Clynelish, an 8 year old, distilled in 2010, bottled at 48%. Clynelish stands on the North Sea coast at Brora, the modern neighbour of the lost Brora distillery. Most of its make goes to blending, with a fourteen year old the flagship single malt.

The spirit was made in copper stills for a coastal, waxy make, for the famous waxy texture at its heart. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the waxy character to the fore. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin (vanilla) and toasted sugars (caramel) over the oily, lemony spirit. A coastal maturation lends a faint brine to the oily, waxy malt. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the wax. It is the heart malt of Johnnie Walker Gold Label, and a sought after single malt in its own right. Clynelish wax and a maritime salt run through the maturing spirit.

At its natural 48% it is concentrated. Beeswax, honey and a coastal freshness, with a soft vanilla from the oak. A beeswax and a savoury edge give it depth. The finish is long, waxy and citrussy. This is Clynelish's oily, coastal Highland style.