Clynelish 1992/2004 Signatory Vintage 12 years old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 46%

The cask was filled in May 1992 and emptied again in May 2004 — almost to the day twelve years later. Signatory has a fondness for that kind of precision, and it rubs off on the whisky.

Please note: The bottle is supplied without a carton.

Expert description

Clynelish 1992/2004 Signatory Vintage 12 years is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a hogshead and bottled at 46% without added colouring.

The cask carries the number 6304 and gave 395 bottles. Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington and is among the most prolific independent bottlers in Scotland; the house also owns Edradour today. A twelve year old Clynelish from bourbon wood shows the distillery's waxy core with little cask interference, and releases from the early 1990s are becoming hard to find.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and cool. Lemon peel, green apple and wet stone, with wax and a light saline note behind.

Palate

Crisp and malty. Apple, honey, cereal and that oily Clynelish texture, with pepper and a touch of liquorice towards the end.

Finish

Medium and dry, with mineral, citrus and a waxy finish that sits around for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Clynelish 1992/2004 Signatory Vintage 12 years Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 46%
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Region/Country: Highlands Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead no. 6304
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 12/05/1992
Bottled: 19/05/2004
Number of bottles: 395
Edition: Single Cask

Flavour profile

Waxy · Citrus · Mineral · Malty · Dry

Investment potential

Medium. The bottling is over twenty years old, the outturn was 395 bottles, and Clynelish from the 1990s is increasingly traded among collectors. Unopened examples are getting scarcer.

Did you know?

Signatory is known for printing both the cask number and the exact distillation and bottling dates on the label. It looks like a technicality, but it makes the bottles traceable, and it is one reason collectors keep a particularly close eye on this house.

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Frequently asked questions about Clynelish 1992/2004 Signatory Vintage 12 years

How does it differ from the official Clynelish 14 years?

It is drawn from a single cask, without added colouring and without being adjusted to a house style. The result is rawer and more mineral, with less cask sweetness and a clearer waxy core.

How many bottles exist?

The cask gave 395 bottles. No more will follow, since the entire release comes from that one cask numbered 6304.

Is it worth collecting?

The age of the bottling itself argues for it. It was bottled in 2004, the outturn was small, and Clynelish distilled in the early 1990s has become noticeably harder to source.

What does natural colour mean?

That no caramel colouring has been added. The colour comes purely from the cask, which makes it paler than many commercial bottlings and tells you something honest about the wood it sat in.

What does a young Clynelish taste like?

Crisper and more citrus-driven than the older releases, but with the waxy texture already in place. Twelve years is enough for balance without the oak starting to dominate.

Who are Signatory Vintage?

A Scottish independent bottling house founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington. They bought Edradour distillery in 2002 and are known for their Cask Strength Collection and Un-chillfiltered Collection.