Just a few more Clynelish, already in the Christmas spirit


December 10, 2025

Just a few more Clynelish, already in the Christmas spirit

Shall we say a trio—does that suit you? Now that we've got our hands on this year's Special Release again...

Clynelish 18 yo ‘Waxen Sun’ (51.6%, OB, Special Release 2025, refill casks)

They’ve included in this assemblage some distillates cut very early, therefore richer in lighter molecules (fruits, exotic fruits) and lower in heavier compounds, which tend to appear later in a run. So, a less Clynelish Clynelish, one might say… Colour: pale white wine. Nose: interesting that the focus here is on the distillate rather than the casks, that makes a change. That said, there’s a slight impression that the process has sent the spirit back in time, in other words made it feel younger. One can’t help but think of the effect of a third distillation, with something slightly Irish about it, or at the very least Lowlands-esque. It’s pretty, on white peach and green melon, but the Clynelish character hasn’t been entirely wiped out, thank goodness. With water: hints of damp chalk, sauvignon blanc, acacia honey… Mouth (neat): lovely, very fruity indeed, lemony, fresh, tight, brings to mind a similarly aged Rosebank. The waxy side is still there but extremely faint. With water: the sauvignon blanc returns, along with golden apple, a touch of honey, pink grapefruit—add some bubbles and you’re almost in champagne territory. Wax present, though rather ephemeral. Finish: not very long, but fresh and fruity, even more ‘Lowlands’. Increasingly clear notes of papaya. Comments: this is good and a genuinely interesting variation. Next time, we’d be curious to try the opposite approach, a wider foreshot and a lower cut, to bring out more body and heavier phenols. Worth digging into, but hey, not my business.
SGP:641 - 87 points.

Clynelish 24 yo 2001/2025 (51.8%, Milroy’s Vintage Highland Reserve, hogshead, cask #235, 164 bottles)

Don’t we already have a premonition? Colour: white wine. Nose: bang, church candles scented with orange. Hats off to the vicar! One is almost tempted to stop right there, on a purely spiritual note—and well, dash it, that’s exactly what we’ll do. With water: it calmly sends that rather lovely Special Release to meet its makers without so much as blinking. That’s brutal, and certainly not very church-sanctioned. Mouth (neat): perfect in every respect. White pepper, riesling, ashes, wax, citron, and a small oyster passing by for a maritime touch. With water: total clarity of line, straight from the Holy Spirit. Superb mix of citrus fruits, white pepper and waxes, utterly Clynelish. Finish: same. Comments: say your prayers…
SGP:651 - 91 points.

Clynelish 35 yo 1990/2025 (42.7%, Signatory Vintage, Symington’s Choice, bourbon barrel, cask #3476, 95 bottles)

Hard to see what could go wrong here, short of a Dreamliner crashing into WF Towers or a massive and sudden Rhine flood. Interesting strength, suggesting a maturation in a warehouse that must have been truly cold and damp. We've already tasted magical spirits that had dropped this low before. Colour: straw, very pale for its age. Nose: magical fruitiness, lavender honey, honeysuckle and acacia blossoms, perhaps even elderflower, gentle furniture polish, a rather restrained wax, multifloral pollen, a few hints of delicately minty custard, a touch of camphor, whiffs of balsa wood, and vanilla fudge… What more could the people want? One only hopes the palate won’t lack a little oomph… Mouth: all is well, it's remained lively and zesty like a dace, and even the wood spice, though more pronounced on the palate, knows how to behave. There are beeswaxes of various ages (both light and darker, thus more marked by honey and pollen), overripe apple, fairly evident salted butter caramel, then more beeriness, hops, and even—how curious—malt. Beautiful citrus, though it does tire just a wee bit right at the end, but that was to be expected… Finish: medium in length, miraculously fresh, this time with propolis and citrus peel, plus a tiny saline touch in the aftertaste. Slight hint of dry curry right at the very end, and it’s only there that it gently bows its head. Comments: approaching 91, though the very slight fragility in the finish of the finish brings it back to 90. A magnificent bottle in any case, though perhaps we ought to have tasted it before the truly superlative 2001.
SGP:661 - 90 points.

No more Clynelish until next year. But the Broras? Not so sure, ha-ha...

Check the index of all Clynelish we've tasted