Clynelish (Brora) Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Information

Original Clynlish now called Brora was founded in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford

The present Clynlish was built in 1968.

Location Highlands region, Northern District, Sutherland.

Water source Clynemilton Burn

Present Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Equipment

Copper domed mash tun

8 Oregon pine washbacks

6 large capacity pot stills

American bourbon casks.

Clynelish (Brora) Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery History

Marquis of Stafford established the original Clynelish distillery in 1819, the distillery operated until 1968 when a new modern Distillery was built.

Most of the history to the Clynelish distillery belongs to the original distillery, which was renamed Brora, when the new Distillery was built alongside it and took over the Clynelish name.

The farm at Clynelish was leased to James Harper, originally from Midlothian, who started the distillery with one wash still and one spirit still, producing 10,015 gallons (45,527 litres) in 1821-22.

Andrew Ross succeeded James Harper as lessee in 1834. In 1846 the distillery passed to George Lawson, who made extensive improvements to the distillery, building a new malt kiln and replacing the original stills.

When the Leith whisky blenders, Ainslie & Co, bought over the distillery in 1896 they enlarged the distillery production and warehousing to satisfy the demand from wholesalers

The Pelton water wheel that had originally supplied power was supplemented by a horizontal steam engine; a system of screw and band conveyors moved raw materials throughout the buildings and a generator was added to provide electric light.

In 1912, John Risk, a trustee who already owned a 50% interest in Clynelish, bought the remaining 50% from Ainslie's & Co and in partnership with The Distillers Company Limited formed The Clynelish Distillery Co Ltd. In 1916 John Walker & Sons Ltd acquired a stake

John Risk sold his shares in the company in 1925 and in 1930 all the shares in Clynelish were transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd, now part of United Distillers

In March 1931 the economic recession forced Clynelish to close. Distilling returned in September 1938, only to shut down from May 1941 until November 1945 due to the restrictions on the supply of barley to distillers during the Second World War.

In the 1960's Clynelish was again brought up to date when mains electricity was installed and stills that had been heated by a hand-fired coal-burning furnace were converted to internal steam heating.

In 1968 the original Clynelish distillery was replaced by the new distillery built on an adjacent site. The six stills in the new distillery are run on the most up to date lines, while retaining the traditional still and the original water supplies from the Clynemilton Burn. This ensured that the sought after quality of Clynelish whisky remained unchanged as an excellent character full malt that is highly rated by blenders. Today only 1% of the production is sold as single malt; the remaining 99% is used in Johnnie Walker Gold Label blend.

Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Bottlings 

Clynelish 14 Years Old Now Coastal Highland Malts

Clynelish 15 Years Old "Distillers Edition

Clynelish 14 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 46% ABV

Tasting Note supplied by Diageo

A well-rounded, classy single malt with a full gold colour suggesting a significant contribution from the wood.

Appearance: Yellow gold.

Nose: Light candle wax, with some sugar. A faint floral fragrance.

Wax comes up with water - scented candle wax. Dried flowers on a beach. Later, brown sugar.

Body: Firm, light to medium.

Palate: Pleasant mouth-feel, not as waxy as some expressions; maritime generally.

Finish: Some salt in the aftertaste; dryish, even slightly bitter finish

Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distillers edition 46% ABV

Water opens up interesting spice/toffee/smoky aromas. The overall dryness may come from the cask (first incumbent), and is rounded and smoothed off. Easy to drink, especially as an aperitif.

Appearance: Amber.

Nose: Immediate raisins, in fact rum and raisin. Dried orange peel. In time a clean walnut crispness appears. Water makes it softer, dried cherry, sultana, apricot and some honey. There's still a slightly piercing quality - tangerine and chocolate.

Body: Silky soft.

Palate: Very sweet with plumped up dried fruit. Sultana cake with thick butter and underneath a bowl of nuts; hazelnut and macadamia. A slightly salty quality cutting through the unctuous texture.

Finish: Short with a hint of nut-shell bitterness.

Tasting Note supplied by Diageo.

Clynlish Single Malt Scotch Whisky Older Distillery Bottlings

Clynelish 14 Years Old (Flora and Fauna)

Clynelish Cask Strength

Clynelish 22 Years Old Rare Malts Selection 1972

Clynelish 23 Years Old Rare Malts Selection 1972

Clynelish 23 Years Old Rare Malts Selection 1974

Clynelish 24 Years Old Rare Malts Selection 1972

Clynelish 1974 23 year old 59.1% Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl

Colour: Pale Gold

Unmistakable sea-smoky grassy aromas and a soft palate swelling to sweet earthiness, reveals a smooth bodied, Northern Highland Malt with a mustard dry finish.

Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky Independent Bottlings 

Adelphi

Berrys' Own Selection,

Blackadder,

Chieftain's

Connoisseurs Choice, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail),

Coopers Choice,

Dun Bheagan

Duncan Taylor,

Hart Brothers,

Lombard,

Mission (Murray McDavid),

Old Malt Cask. Platinum and Provenance (Douglas Laing),

Signatory,

SMWS

Whisky Galore (Duncan Taylor.

Brora Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Bottling

Brora Aged 20 Years Rare Malts Selection 1974

Brora Aged 20 Years Rare Malts Selection 1975

Brora Aged 20 Years Rare Malts Selection 1982

Brora Aged 21 Years Rare Malts Selection 1977

Brora Aged 22 Years Rare Malts Selection 1972

Brora Aged 24 Years Rare Malts Selection 1977

Brora Single Malt Scotch Whisky 24 year old 1977

Tasting Note

Colour: Bright Gold

This Northern Highland single malt Scotch whisky has bracing Iodine aromas and polished, sweet-smoky character of a mighty coastal malt whisky, with its long, finally mustard dry finish

Brora Single Malt Scotch Whisky Independent Bottlings 

Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail),

Old Malt Cask, Platinum and Provenance (Douglas Laing),

Signatory

SMWS

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