Clynelish — a whisky with a cult following owing to its characterful coastal and waxy profile. But alas! Some say the wax has waned. Wax on, wax off. As intricately described in this reddit post there are a number of factors in the production process contributing to the waxiness, including long fermentation times for the wort, and unusual still configurations that allow a waxy residue to form and build up in the spirit receivers. At times when the distillery has been too thoroughly cleaned, or recently in 2017 when parts of if were modernized, the waxiness has disappeared for a while. I recall a distiller friend marking 2005 and a few years on as bad vintage for waxiness.
Clynliesh is a favourite with me, so I tend to try versions of it (ideally in the 20s) when I get the chance. The problem is that it’s not so easy to get hold of a good bottle. The only regular release is the 14yo as part of Diageo’s Flora and Fauna series, which at least used to be great but is supposedly less so in recent batches. Clynelish is every once in a while released by independent bottlers, usually as a “secret Highland”, and asking for around €100 even for just a 10yo. Older Clynelish (20yo+) is so sought after that it hits the multiple hundreds. All the while, the unevenness in profile, and tendency of cask finishes to be hit or miss, means I’m rather unwilling to take a chance on buying a bottle before I’ve tried it or seems some reviews. But by the time one has info, it’s already sold out, at least if it was any good.
I have anyways some samples of not-too-fancy but hopefully good Clynelish to try for a little review.
Clynelish 10yo “Cataibh” Chorlton
Type: Scotch single malt
Alcohol: 58.6%
Cask info: bourbon barrel
Bottling info: unchillfiltered and natural colour
Price and availability: No longer available. Retail price £65 (UK, 2021)
🔗WhiskyBase
Review of purchased bottle drunk over the course of a year or two.
Experience ⚡
Fresh citrus (grapefruit, pomelo), maritime minerality, undergirded by warm butter. Bitter-sweet on the palate, quite strong on the alcohol but takes water well. Flavours of smoked meats, charred lemon, bitter herbs (sage, perhaps). There is a sulphury note, but its been tempered by time in the open bottle.
Thoughts 💡
In a blind tasting, I would have put a sizable bet on this being Croftengea — and I’d be wrong! The classical waxy Clynelish note can maybe be glimpsed if one looks for it, but it is not a selling point with this bottling. This is clearly peated, in my opinion. Whether the standard 14yo is peated or not has not been officially answered, but it is too, I reckon! Not my favourite expression of Clynelish, but it passes as a quality malt. Not sure how I feel about the fact that I have another two unopened bottles of this, though…
Great Quality ⭐
Clynelish 10yo (2011) Elixir Distillers
Type: Scotch single malt
Alcohol: 58.3%
Cask info: cask refernce #800289
Bottling info: unchillfiltered and natural colour
Price and availability: Never sold by the bottle. Comparable bottle estimated at RRP €90 (2023) (but would be sold out fast)
🔗No WhiskyBase entry
Sample from SMOS whisky advent calendar 2022
Experience ⚡
More luscious and better integrated nose than Cataibh. Fresh fruit (peaches, green apples), some dusty oak, and — again — a beach-pebble like minerality. Bees wax? Why, yes, there is! Feisty alcohol, sweet-ish, and with some fun flavours: lemon cough drops, green peppercorn, and a smoked ham appearing in the finish. Good mouthfeel, too.
Thoughts 💡
This is a nice young-ish Clynelish with a sumptuous bourbon cask influence.
Great Quality ⭐
Highland 19yo (2000) Liquid Treasures / Whisky Fair
Type: Scotch single malt
Alcohol: 55.6%
Cask info: ex-bourbon hogshead
Bottling info: 325 bottles produced
Price and availability: Unavailable. Estimated RRP €120 (2020)
🔗WhiskyBase
Review sample bought from bottler at Limburg Whisky Fair 2023 (2cl, €5)
Experience ⚡
Nose: Snuffed candle, tropical fruit (coconut, maracuja), also citrus, and sea spray minerality. Rather light mouthfeel, with some oak tannin and residual sweetness in the palate. Quite smoky, not so much fruit flavour. Possible a hint of mini-bottle defect, but I’m not sure.
Thoughts 💡
Yes, this is Clynelish, but not at its best. Over on WhiskyBase, veteran hs305 recommends pimping this one with a fine Palo Cortado sherry wine (ratio 1:12). Will keep this trick in mind for the future.
Great Quality ⭐
Well, I can’t say the full waxy glory of Clynelish has been “unleashed” in these expressions.
Next, I hope to get my hand on a yesteryear bottling of the standard 14yo on auction to compare with a current batch and a sherried 15yo bottle I picked up on the Islay trip.
DuckDrams 
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