Clynelish : 20 Year Old Hogshead Cask N°12351 Orcines 1997

Clynelish 20 Years Old Hogshead Cask N°12351 Orcines 1997: a waxy, maritime Scotch single malt from the Northern Highlands

Tasting notes

Appearance
This 20-year-old Clynelish has a clear, luminous straw-yellow colour, in keeping with the absence of added colouring and a hogshead maturation that leaves the spirit free to express itself fully.

Nose
The nose opens with slightly acetic notes reminiscent of a dash of cider vinegar or lemon juice, quickly balanced by aniseed and fennel. Aromas of bergamot and citrus sweets follow, evoking candied lemon and confectionery, then touches of candied apricot that reinforce the impression of ripe stone fruit. Maraschino and walnut liqueur bring additional depth, while liquorice, verbena, bitter orange and chocolate-coated orange peel complete this rich aromatic picture, which moves between sweetness, herbaceous freshness and delicate bitterness.

Palate
The palate is full-bodied, pulpy and thick, carried by a rich, mouth-coating texture. Grapefruit, lime and lemon dominate over a chalky, mineral backdrop that at times recalls certain white wines. Clynelish's signature waxiness comes through powerfully in the form of paraffin and beeswax, coating the palate with a light, oily film. Coastal notes of kelp and seawater, along with a fine saline touch, round off this balance. The long, very waxy and slightly tangy finish leaves a lingering chalkiness and a final echo of resin.

Pairings and tasting occasions

The Clynelish style lends itself particularly well to being served as an aperitif in a traditional whisky glass, preferably neat or with a few drops of water to preserve the integrity of its waxiness and allow the aromas to open up. The density and aromatic richness of this 20-year-old also make it an ideal whisky for moments of contemplative tasting, perfect for exploring its palette of citrus, candied fruit and marine notes.

Mixology

Bottled at 46% ABV without colouring or chill filtration, this single cask is first and foremost a sipping whisky. Its aromatic complexity and pronounced waxiness would be lost in a cocktail, so it is best enjoyed unadorned, either neat or with a small dash of water.

Other characteristics

This 1997 20-year-old Clynelish is an unpeated whisky, in keeping with the distillery's overall style, which favours fruity, waxy expression over smoke. It is bottled at 46% ABV, without colouring or chill filtration, from a single hogshead cask (cask no. 12351), filled in 1997 and bottled after twenty years of maturation.

Clynelish, the waxy distillery of the Northern Highlands

Clynelish is a Scotch whisky distillery founded in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford on the outskirts of Brora, on the Sutherland coast in the Northern Highlands. Rebuilt in 1967 right next to the original distillery, which became Brora, Clynelish has developed a unique style built on a "waxy" texture and floral, fruity and maritime notes, achieved through long fermentation and the deliberate practice of leaving the low wines and feints receivers uncleaned. Owned by Diageo, it is one of the cornerstones of the Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve blend, while also offering single malt bottlings highly prized by connoisseurs. Identified as one of the "Four Corners of Johnnie Walker", Clynelish embodies the "Coastal Highland" style, combining coastal elegance with aromatic complexity, and remains a cult malt regularly selected by independent bottlers.

Clynelish 20 Years Old Hogshead Cask N°12351 Orcines 1997: an exceptional single cask

Clynelish 20 Years Old Hogshead Cask N°12351 Orcines 1997 Whisky is a Scotch single malt (single cask) from the Clynelish distillery in the Northern Highlands. Selected by Orcines, a range of independent bottlings from The Whisky Lodge, this whisky comes from a single hogshead, cask no. 12351, filled in 1997 and bottled after twenty years of maturation. It is offered at 46% ABV in a 70cl bottle, without colouring or chill filtration, in line with Orcines' philosophy of preserving the integrity of the whisky and ensuring full traceability from cask to bottle.

As a single cask, this bottling offers a unique, unblended expression of the Clynelish style, marked by its famous waxiness, the result of the distillery's specific technical choices regarding long fermentation and the management of its low wines and feints receivers. The choice of a hogshead, a medium-sized cask, contributes to the clarity of the citrus and mineral notes while allowing the fruity, waxy character of the spirit to shine through.

Positioned in a price bracket above €100, this 20-year-old Clynelish reflects its age statement, its single cask status and the distillery's prestigious pedigree. It is aimed at connoisseurs keen to explore a precise and particularly accomplished expression of Clynelish's distinctive waxy, maritime style, in a meticulously crafted independent bottling.