Clynelish (Brora) Scotch Whisky

Clynelish 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 Whisky Distillery Equipment

Copper domed mash tun

8 Oregon pine washbacks

6 large capacity pot stills

American bourbon casks

Clynelish Brora 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.

Published 8 times a year Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes

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