Clynelish 14 year old Coastal Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%

There is a texture in Clynelish that nobody quite explains. Candle wax, beeswax, something that coats the tongue and stays there. Whisky people simply call it waxy and leave it at that.

Expert description

Clynelish 14 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 46%.

The distillery sits on the coast in Sutherland, where the original Clynelish was founded in 1819 by the Marquess of Stafford. When a new distillery was built across the road in 1968, the old one was renamed Brora and closed in 1983. Clynelish is today one of the main ingredients in Johnnie Walker, but the 14 year old is where the distillery character stands at its clearest: maritime, waxy and with a freshness you do not find further south.

Tasting notes

Nose

Citrus peel and sea salt first, then wax, vanilla and heather. A cool, mineral note runs underneath it all and points straight at the coast.

Palate

Creamy and lively. Ripe fruit, malt, honey and a suggestion of smoke, carried by that distinctive waxy mouthfeel. The 46% gives bite without tightening things up.

Finish

Long, dry and elegant, with maritime nuances, pepper and a mild spiced warmth fading slowly.

Specifications

Name: Clynelish 14 years Coastal Single Highland Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Clynelish
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000281016528

Flavour profile

Waxy · Maritime · Citrus · Honeyed · Lightly Smoked

Did you know?

The waxy character is unintentional. It comes from feed pipes at Clynelish that are not fully cleaned, letting an oily layer build up and mark the spirit. When the system was thoroughly scrubbed in the 1970s the wax vanished, and it took years to coax it back.

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Frequently asked questions about Clynelish 14 years

What does it mean that Clynelish is waxy?

It describes a mouthfeel rather than a flavour — something candle-like and oily that coats the tongue and lingers. It is the distillery signature and comes from the way the spirit is moved through the plant.

Is it peated?

Only very lightly. There is a wisp of smoke in the background, but Clynelish is above all maritime and waxy. For real peat smoke, head towards Islay Whisky.

Why is it called Coastal?

Because the distillery sits by the sea in Sutherland, and because salt and minerality are a clear part of the flavour. Diageo uses the term to place it in a coastal style rather than a classic Highland one.

Does it belong in a tasting line-up?

It is almost essential. The waxy texture is so distinctive that it teaches you to read mouthfeel as a dimension of its own, something most people only notice when Clynelish sits next to something else.

What is the connection to Brora?

Brora is the original Clynelish distillery, renamed in 1969 when the current one was built across the road. Brora closed in 1983 and reopened in 2021, and bottles from it are among the most sought after in Scotch whisky.

Should I add water?

Try it neat first. At 46% it is fine as it is, but a couple of drops can lift the citrus and heather. Avoid ice, which shuts down the waxy texture.